Vatican City or the Holy See is the smallest independent city-state in the world, both in area and population. It consists of 110 acres, a walled enclave within the city of Rome, Italy. It sits on the west bank of the Tiber River on Vatican Hill. The state in its present form was established by the Lateran Treaty of 1929. This enclave has a population of 820 people, 100% of whom are Roman Catholic.
The Pope, or Bishop of Rome is the only absolute monarch in Europe. This elective monarch is chosen for life by the College of Cardinals which consists of all cardinals under the age of 80. All of the highest state functionaries are priests of the Catholic Church. The current Pope is Benedict XVI who was born in Bavaria, Germany as Joseph Ratzinger. The Pope’s residence is called the Apostolic Palace. The personal bodyguards of the Pope called the Swiss Guard are easily recognized for their bright and unusual costume. The group was founded in 1506 by Pope Julius II.
This city-state has the most unique economy. It is supported primarily from contributions from Catholics throughout the world, the sale of postage stamps and tourist items, and admission fees for Vatican Museums. These museums, St. Peter’s Basilica and the Sistine Chapel are home to some of the most famous art in the world, including works by Botticelli, Raphael and Michelangelo.
Web Sites
Catalog
Search the library's catalog for Vatican City or Holy See.
Databases
Enter Vatican City or Holy See in these databases: