Legend:
Definition of Term
 Arranged
by Countries Field Listing
| Background: |
Popes in their secular role ruled portions of the Italian peninsula
for more than a thousand years until the mid 19th century, when
many of the Papal States were seized by the newly united Kingdom
of Italy. In 1870, the pope's holdings were further circumscribed
when Rome itself was annexed. Disputes between a series of "prisoner"
popes and Italy were resolved in 1929 by three Lateran Treaties,
which established the independent state of Vatican City and granted
Roman Catholicism special status in Italy. In 1984, a concordat
between the Holy See and Italy modified certain of the earlier
treaty provisions, including the primacy of Roman Catholicism
as the Italian state religion. Present concerns of the Holy See
include the failing health of Pope John Paul II, interreligious
dialogue and reconciliation, and the application of church doctrine
in an era of rapid change and globalization. About 1 billion people
worldwide profess the Catholic faith. |
| |
People |
Holy
See (Vatican City) |
|
| Country
name: |
conventional long form: The Holy See (State of the
Vatican City)
conventional short form: Holy See (Vatican City)
local short form: Santa Sede (Citta del Vaticano)
local long form: Santa Sede (Stato della Citta del Vaticano)
|
| Government
type: |
ecclesiastical |
| Capital: |
Vatican City |
| Administrative
divisions: |
none |
| Independence: |
11 February 1929 (from Italy)
note: on 11 February 1929, three treaties were signed with
Italy which, among other things, recognized the full sovereignty
of the Vatican and established its territorial extent; however,
the origin of the Papal States, which over the years have varied
considerably in extent, may be traced back to the 8th century
|
| National
holiday: |
Coronation Day of Pope JOHN PAUL II, 22 October (1978) |
| Constitution: |
Apostolic Constitution of 1967 (effective 1 March 1968) |
| Legal
system: |
based on canon law and revisions to it |
| Suffrage: |
limited to cardinals less than 80 years old |
| Executive
branch: |
chief of state: Pope JOHN PAUL II (since 16 October
1978)
head of government: Secretary of State Cardinal Angelo
SODANO (since 2 December 1990)
cabinet: Pontifical Commission appointed by the pope
elections: pope elected for life by the College of Cardinals;
election last held 16 October 1978 (next to be held after the
death of the current pope); secretary of state appointed by the
pope
election results: Karol WOJTYLA elected pope |
| Legislative
branch: |
unicameral Pontifical Commission |
| Judicial
branch: |
there are three tribunals responsible for civil and criminal matters
within Vatican City; three other tribunals rule on issues pertaining
to the Holy See
note: judicial duties were established by the Motu Proprio
of Pius XII on 1 May 1946 |
| Political
parties and leaders: |
none |
| Political
pressure groups and leaders: |
none (exclusive of influence exercised by church officers) |
| International
organization participation: |
CE (observer), IAEA, ICFTU, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM (guest),
OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, UN (observer), UNCTAD, UNHCR, UPU,
WHO (observer), WIPO, WToO (observer), WTrO (observer) |
| Diplomatic
representation in the US: |
chief of mission: Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Gabriel
MONTALVO
FAX: [1] (202) 337-4036
telephone: [1] (202) 333-7121
chancery: 3339 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC
20008 |
| Diplomatic
representation from the US: |
chief of mission: Ambassador R. James "Jim" NICHOLSON
embassy: Villa Domiziana, Via delle Terme Deciane 26, 00162
Rome
mailing address: PSC 59, Box F, APO AE 09624
telephone: [39] (06) 4674-3428
FAX: [39] (06) 5758346 |
| Flag
description: |
two vertical bands of yellow (hoist side) and white with the crossed
keys of Saint Peter and the papal miter centered in the white
band
|
| Economy
- overview: |
This unique, noncommercial economy is supported financially by
contributions (known as Peter's Pence) from Roman Catholics throughout
the world, the sale of postage stamps and tourist mementos, fees
for admission to museums, and the sale of publications. The incomes
and living standards of lay workers are comparable to, or somewhat
better than, those of counterparts who work in the city of Rome.
|
| Population
below poverty line: |
NA% |
| Household
income or consumption by percentage share: |
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA% |
| Labor
force: |
NA |
| Labor
force - by occupation: |
agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA%; note - dignitaries,
priests, nuns, guards, and 3,000 lay workers live outside the
Vatican |
| Budget: |
revenues: $209.6 million
expenditures: $198.5 million, including capital expenditures
of $NA (1997) |
| Industries: |
printing and production of a small amount of mosaics and staff
uniforms; worldwide banking and financial activities |
| Electricity
- production by source: |
fossil fuel: NA%
hydro: NA%
nuclear: NA%
other: NA% |
| Electricity
- consumption: |
NA kWh |
| Electricity
- imports: |
NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by Italy |
| Economic
aid - recipient: |
none |
| Currency: |
euro (EUR); Italian lira (ITL) |
| Currency
code: |
EUR; ITL |
| Exchange
rates: |
euros per US dollar - 1.1324 (January 2002), 1.1175 (2001), 1.0854
(2000), 0.9386 (1999); Vatican lire per US dollar - 2,099 (2000),
1817.2 (1999), 1,736.2 (1998), 1,703.1 (1997); note - the Vatican
lira is at par with the Italian lira; the Vatican started using
euros in 2002 in conjunction with Italy at a fixed rate of 1,936.17
lire per euro |
| Fiscal
year: |
calendar year
|
| Disputes
- international: |
none | |
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