Outline of Vatican City

The following outline is provided as an overview of and introduction to Vatican City:

Vatican City – an ecclesiastical or sacerdotal-monarchical state, being the sovereign territory of the Holy See and ruled by the Bishop of RomeÃ¢ÂÂthe Pope, the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church. The territory of this landlocked sovereign city-state consists of a walled enclave within the city of Rome, Italy. It has an area of approximately and a population of about 825. This makes Vatican City the smallest independent state in the world by both area and population.

General reference

Pronunciation:
Common English country name: Vatican City
Official English country name: Vatican City State
Common endonym(s): Vatican City State
Official endonym(s): Stato della CittÃÂ del Vaticano (),
Adjectival(s): Vatican
Demonym(s): Citizen of Vatican City
Etymology: See Vatican Hill
ISO country codes: VA, VAT, 336
ISO region codes: none
Internet country code top-level domain: .va

Geography of Vatican City

Vatican City is:
A walled enclave within the city of Rome
A sovereign city-state
A European microstate
Land boundaries: 3.2 km
Coastline: none
Population: 825 (2019) - 240th
Size: - 258th

Location of Vatican City

Vatican City is situated within the following regions:
Eastern Hemisphere
Northern Hemisphere
Eurasia
Europe
Southern Europe
Italian Peninsula
Surrounded by Italy
Surrounded by Lazio
Surrounded by Rome
Time zone: Central European Time (UTC+01), Central European Summer Time (UTC+02)
Extreme points of Vatican City
High: unnamed location
Low: Saint Peter's Square

Environment of Vatican City

Climate of Vatican City
Ecoregions in Vatican City: none
Protected areas of Vatican City: none

Natural geographic features of Vatican City

Vatican City is an enclave in an urban area, and lacks the geographic features common to (much larger) countries:

Lakes: none
Mountains: none
Rivers: none
Valleys: none
World Heritage Sites in Vatican City: Vatican City is itself a World Heritage Site

Regions of Vatican City

None
Vatican City is inside Rome, which in turn lies within the Lazio region of Italy
Vatican City lies next to the Borgo district in Rome.

Ecoregions of Vatican City

None

Administrative divisions of Vatican City

Vatican City has no administrative divisions.

Demography of Vatican City

Demographics of Vatican City

Government and politics of Vatican City

Politics of Vatican City

Form of government: Ecclesiastical; sacerdotal-monarchical; absolute monarchy; elective monarchy; elective theocracy (disputed application).
Capital: Vatican City
Association of Vatican Lay Workers
Elections in Vatican City
Political parties in Vatican City: none. Vatican City is in the jurisdiction of the Holy See, which has absolute authority over it.
Political scandals of Vatican City
Banco Ambrosiano
Gone with the Wind in the Vatican
Roman Question
Vatican Apostolic Archive

Branches of the government of Vatican City

Government of Vatican City

Executive branch of the government of Vatican City

Head of state: Pope, currently
De facto head of government: President of the Governatorate of Vatican City,
Governatorate of Vatican City

Legislative branch of the government of Vatican City

Absolute legislative authority: Pope, currently Leo XIV
Secretariat of State
Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State
President of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State:
Laws passed by the Commission must be approved by the pope through the Secretariat of State prior to being published and taking effect.

Judicial branch of the government of Vatican City

Absolute judicial authority: Pope, currently Leo XIV
Supreme Court of Vatican City (Corte di Cassazione)
The Cardinal Prefect of the Apostolic Signatura serves ex officio as the President of the Supreme Court of Vatican City (Corte di Cassazione). The two other members of the Supreme Court are also Cardinals of the Apostolic Signatura and are chosen by the Cardinal Prefect on a yearly basis.
Appellate Court of Vatican City
Tribunal of Vatican City State
Under the terms of article 22 the Lateran Treaty, Italy will, at the request of the Holy See, punish individuals for crimes committed within Vatican City and will itself proceed against the person who committed the offence, if that person takes refuge in Italian territory. Persons accused of crimes recognized as such both in Italy and in Vatican City that are committed in Italian territory will be handed over to the Italian authorities if they take refuge in Vatican City or in buildings that under the treaty enjoy immunity.

Foreign relations of Vatican City

Foreign relations of Vatican City – Vatican City State is a recognised national territory under international law, but it is the Holy See that conducts diplomatic relations on its behalf, in addition to the Holy See's own diplomacy, entering into international agreements in its regard. See also Foreign relations of the Holy See
Diplomatic missions in Vatican City: none (Vatican City maintains diplomatic relations with no one, only the Holy See does. See below).
Because Vatican City is too small, diplomatic missions accredited to the Holy See are situated in Rome, not in Vatican City.
Diplomatic missions to the Holy See
Diplomatic missions of Vatican City: none. (See below).
The Holy See, which Vatican City is the sovereign territory of, maintains diplomatic relations with 176 countries.
Diplomatic missions of the Holy See