| Government | Holy See (Vatican City) |
 = Fields  = World Records  = Dictionary  = Bar graph  = Distribution map  = Fields History  = Definitions |
Country name:
|
conventional long form: The Holy See (State of the Vatican City)
conventional short form: Holy See (Vatican City)
local long form: Santa Sede (Stato della Citta del Vaticano)
local short form: Santa Sede (Citta del Vaticano) |
Dependency status:
|
void |
Government type:
|
ecclesiastical |
Capital:
|
name: Vatican City
geographic coordinates: 41 54 N, 12 27 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October |
Administrative divisions:
|
none |
Dependent areas:
|
void |
Independence:
|
11 February 1929 (from Italy); note - the three treaties signed with Italy on 11 February 1929 acknowledged, among other things, the full sovereignty of the Vatican and established its territorial extent; however, the origin of the Papal States, which over centuries varied considerably in extent, may be traced back to 754 |
National holiday:
|
Election Day of Pope BENEDICT XVI, 19 April (2005) |
Constitution:
|
Fundamental Law promulgated by Pope JOHN PAUL II 26 November 2000, effective 22 February 2001 (replaced the first Fundamental Law of 1929) |
Legal system:
|
religious legal system based on canon (religious) law |
International law organization participation:
|
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt |
Suffrage:
|
limited to cardinals less than 80 years old |
Executive branch:
|
chief of state: Pope BENEDICT XVI (since 19 April 2005)
head of government: Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio BERTONE (since 15 September 2006)
cabinet: Pontifical Commission for the State of Vatican City appointed by the pope
elections: pope elected for life by the College of Cardinals; election last held on 19 April 2005 (next to be held after the death of the current pope); secretary of state appointed by the pope
election results: Joseph RATZINGER elected Pope BENEDICT XVI |
Legislative branch:
|
unicameral Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State |
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, papal directive, of Pope 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, Interpol, IOM (observer), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, Schengen Convention (de facto member), UN (observer), UNCTAD, UNHCR, Union Latina (observer), UNWTO (observer), UPU, WIPO, WTO (observer) |
Diplomatic representation in the US:
|
chief of mission: Apostolic Nuncio Carlo Maria VIGANO
chancery: 3339 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 333-7121
FAX: [1] (202) 337-4036 |
Diplomatic representation from the US:
|
chief of mission: Ambassador Miguel Humberto DIAZ
embassy: Villa Domiziana, Via delle Terme Deciane 26, 00153 Rome
mailing address: PSC 833, Box 66, APO AE 09624
telephone: [39] (06) 4674-3428
FAX: [39] (06) 575-3411 |
Flag description:
|
two vertical bands of yellow (hoist side) and white with the arms of the Holy See, consisting of the crossed keys of Saint Peter surmounted by the three-tiered papal tiara, centered in the white band; the yellow color represents the pope's spiritual power, the white his worldly power |
National symbol(s):
|
crossed keys |
Government - note:
|
void |
National anthem:
|
name: "Inno e Marcia Pontificale" (Hymn and Pontifical March)
lyrics/music: Raffaello LAVAGNA/Charles-Francois GOUNOD
note: adopted 1950; although used as such, "Inno e Marcia Pontificale" is not officially a national anthem but rather a hymn meant to appeal to Roman Catholics throughout the world |
|
= Fields = World Records = Dictionary = Bar graph = Distribution map = Fields History = Definitions |
|
Home 
Geographic Names
Chiefs of State
Intl. Organizations
Intl. Environmental Agree.
Other References
