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Vatican City

Southern Europe

Vatican City is a landlocked sovereign city-state in Southern Europe, an enclave within the city of Rome, Italy. At 0.49 square kilometers it is the smallest country in the world by both area and population, with about 882 residents as of 2024. It came into existence as an independent state via the Lateran Treaty, signed 11 February 1929 between the Holy See and the Kingdom of Italy. The pope exercises principal legislative, executive and judicial power over the state. Its capital is Vatican City itself.

Facts
Capital
Vatican City 1
The infobox names the city-state itself as its own capital; Vatican City has no separate administrative capital.
Population
882 1
2024 estimate, from Vatican City's own Wikipedia infobox.
Population Estimate Year
2024 1
Area (sq km)
0.49 1
Infobox figure (49 hectares), per the infobox's own footnote correcting an older 44-hectare figure the lead paragraph still repeats from the 1945-1946 De Agostini Atlas.
Independence or Founding Year
1929 1
The independent state of Vatican City came into existence via the Lateran Treaty, signed 11 February 1929 between the Holy See and the Kingdom of Italy.
Landlocked
Yes 2
Government Type
Absolute Monarchy 2
Classification
Sovereignty Status
UN Observer State 1
Connections

Associated With

Italy, Countries

Vatican City is an enclave entirely within Italy.

Source Vatican City (Wikipedia)
Rome, Cities

Vatican City is an enclave within the city of Rome.

Source Vatican City (Wikipedia)
Southern Europe, Regions

Southern Europe region membership per the entity's own Wikipedia lead.

Source Vatican City (Wikipedia)
In the Other Atlases

Same As

Vatican City

Also in Divinity Atlas: the same subject.

Nationals Include

Alessandro Diddi

Also in Law Atlas: a national of this subject.

Source Alessandro Diddi - Wikipedia
Leo XIV

Also in Political Atlas: a national of this subject.

Source Pope Leo XIV (Wikipedia)Lead
Quote, Lead
Pope Leo XIV (born Robert Francis Prevost, pronounced PREE-vohst; September 14, 1955) is the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City.

Origin Of

Aperuit illis

Also in History Atlas: which originated in this subject.

Source Wikipedia: Aperuit illisLead
Quote, Lead
is an apostolic letter, by Pope Francis
Communio et Progressio

Also in History Atlas: which originated in this subject.

Source Wikipedia: Communio et ProgressioLead
Quote, Lead
issued by the Pontifical Council for Social Communications
Concordat of Bologna

Also in History Atlas: which originated in this subject.

Source Wikidata: Concordat of Bologna
Cum Occasione

Also in History Atlas: which originated in this subject.

Source Wikipedia: Cum OccasioneLead
Quote, Lead
promulgated by Pope Innocent X in 1653
Lateran Treaty

Also in History Atlas: which originated in this subject.

Source Wikidata: Lateran Treaty
Note on the Importance of the Internal Forum and the Inviolability of the Sacramental Seal

Also in History Atlas: which originated in this subject.

Source Wikipedia: Note on the Importance of the Internal Forum and the Inviolability of the Sacramental SealLead
Quote, Lead
is a July 1, 2019, document of the Apostolic Penitentiary
Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty

Also in History Atlas: which originated in this subject.

Source Wikidata: Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty
Orientations for the Chinese Clergy

Also in History Atlas: which originated in this subject.

Source Wikipedia: Orientations for the Chinese ClergyLead
Quote, Lead
is a June 28, 2019 document of the Holy See
Reichskonkordat

Also in History Atlas: which originated in this subject.

Source Wikidata: Reichskonkordat
Sponsa Christi

Also in History Atlas: which originated in this subject.

Source Wikipedia: Sponsa ChristiLead
Quote, Lead
is an Apostolic Constitution issued by Pope Pius XII
Totum Amoris Est

Also in History Atlas: which originated in this subject.

Source Wikipedia: Totum Amoris EstLead
Quote, Lead
is an Apostolic Letter of Pope Francis

Location Of

The Second Vatican Council

Also in Divinity Atlas: which took place in this subject.

Source Second Vatican Council (Wikipedia)Lead paragraph
Quote, Lead paragraph
St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City

Site Of

Casina Pio IV

Also in Architecture and Design Atlas: which is located in this subject.

Source Casina Pio IV (Wikipedia)
Sistine Chapel

Also in Architecture and Design Atlas: which is located in this subject.

St. Peter's Basilica

Also in Architecture and Design Atlas: which is located in this subject.

Source Encyclopedia Britannica
Aldobrandini Wedding

Also in Arts and Music Atlas: which is located in this subject.

Source Wikidata: Aldobrandini Wedding
Azuchi Screens

Also in Arts and Music Atlas: which is located in this subject.

Source Wikidata: Azuchi Screens
Cardinal and Theological Virtues (Raphael)

Also in Arts and Music Atlas: which is located in this subject.

Source Cardinal and Theological Virtues (Raphael) (Wikipedia)
Disputation of the Holy Sacrament

Also in Arts and Music Atlas: which is located in this subject.

Source Disputation of the Holy Sacrament (Wikipedia)
Liberation of Saint Peter (Raphael)

Also in Arts and Music Atlas: which is located in this subject.

Moses Leaving for Egypt

Also in Arts and Music Atlas: which is located in this subject.

Source Wikidata: Moses Leaving for Egypt
Niccoline Chapel

Also in Arts and Music Atlas: which is located in this subject.

Source Niccoline Chapel (Wikipedia)
Pieta (Michelangelo)

Also in Arts and Music Atlas: which is located in this subject.

Source Pieta (Michelangelo) (Wikipedia)tier 2
Prophet Daniel (Michelangelo)

Also in Arts and Music Atlas: which is located in this subject.

Prophet Isaiah (Michelangelo)

Also in Arts and Music Atlas: which is located in this subject.

Source Prophet Isaiah (Michelangelo) (Wikipedia)
Prophet Jeremiah (Michelangelo)

Also in Arts and Music Atlas: which is located in this subject.

Source Prophet Jeremiah (Michelangelo) (Wikipedia)
Prophet Joel (Michelangelo)

Also in Arts and Music Atlas: which is located in this subject.

Source Prophet Joel (Michelangelo) (Wikipedia)
Saint Peter's Basilica

Also in Arts and Music Atlas: which is located in this subject.

Source Wikipediatier 2
Separation of Light from Darkness

Also in Arts and Music Atlas: which is located in this subject.

Source Separation of Light from Darkness (Wikipedia)
Sistine Chapel Ceiling

Also in Arts and Music Atlas: which is located in this subject.

Source Gardner's Art Through the AgesFred S. Kleiner (after Helen Gardner)
Stufetta del cardinal Bibbiena

Also in Arts and Music Atlas: which is located in this subject.

Testament and Death of Moses

Also in Arts and Music Atlas: which is located in this subject.

Source Wikidata: Testament and Death of Moses
The Battle of the Milvian Bridge (Giulio Romano)

Also in Arts and Music Atlas: which is located in this subject.

Source The Battle of the Milvian Bridge (Giulio Romano) (Wikipedia)
The Conversion of Saul (Michelangelo)

Also in Arts and Music Atlas: which is located in this subject.

Source The Conversion of Saul (Michelangelo) (Wikipedia)
The Coronation of Charlemagne

Also in Arts and Music Atlas: which is located in this subject.

Source Wikidata: The Coronation of Charlemagne
The Creation of Adam

Also in Arts and Music Atlas: which is located in this subject.

Source The Creation of Adam (Wikipedia)
The Crucifixion of Saint Peter (Michelangelo)

Also in Arts and Music Atlas: which is located in this subject.

Source The Crucifixion of Saint Peter (Michelangelo) (Wikipedia)
The Expulsion of Heliodorus from the Temple

Also in Arts and Music Atlas: which is located in this subject.

Source The Expulsion of Heliodorus from the Temple (Wikipedia)
The Fire in the Borgo

Also in Arts and Music Atlas: which is located in this subject.

Source The Fire in the Borgo (Wikipedia)
The Last Judgment (Michelangelo)

Also in Arts and Music Atlas: which is located in this subject.

Source The Last Judgment (Michelangelo), Wikipedia
The Mass at Bolsena

Also in Arts and Music Atlas: which is located in this subject.

Source The Mass at Bolsena (Wikipedia)
The Meeting of Leo the Great and Attila

Also in Arts and Music Atlas: which is located in this subject.

Source The Meeting of Leo the Great and Attila (Wikipedia)
The Parnassus

Also in Arts and Music Atlas: which is located in this subject.

Source The Parnassus (Wikipedia)
The School of Athens

Also in Arts and Music Atlas: which is located in this subject.

The Vision of the Cross

Also in Arts and Music Atlas: which is located in this subject.

Source Wikidata: The Vision of the Cross
Transfiguration (Raphael)

Also in Arts and Music Atlas: which is located in this subject.

Source Transfiguration (Raphael) (Wikipedia)tier 2
Vatican Museums

Also in Arts and Music Atlas: which is located in this subject.

Vergilius Vaticanus

Also in Arts and Music Atlas: which is located in this subject.

Source Vergilius Vaticanus (Wikipedia)tier 2
Agenzia Fides

Also in Business Atlas: which is located in this subject.

Source Wikidata: Agenzia Fidestier 2
AsiaNews

Also in Business Atlas: which is located in this subject.

Source Wikidata: AsiaNewstier 2
Vatican Information Service

Also in Business Atlas: which is located in this subject.

Saint Peter's Basilica and the Vatican Necropolis

Also in Divinity Atlas: which is located in this subject.

Found There

Vatican McCarrick Report

Also in Divinity Atlas: found in this subject.

Apostolic Penitentiary

Also in Law Atlas: found in this subject.

Source Apostolic Penitentiary (Wikipedia)Lead
Quote, Lead
is one of the three ordinary tribunals of the Holy See.
Apostolic Signatura

Also in Law Atlas: found in this subject.

Source Apostolic Signatura (source article)Lead section [country-or-jurisdiction]
Quote, Lead section [country-or-jurisdiction]
certain of its members have judicial functions in regard to the Vatican City State
Canon Law

Also in Law Atlas: found in this subject.

Source JuriGlobe: Classification of Legal Systems (University of Ottawa)
Court of Cassation of Vatican City State

Also in Law Atlas: found in this subject.

Source Researching the law of the Vatican City State, GlobaLexIntroduction, Vatican City State, a sovereign state
Quote, Introduction, Vatican City State, a sovereign state
Vatican City State (VCS), an enclave of Rome, is a sovereign monarchical-sacerdotal state. The statistical data, updated to 26 June 2023 on the official Vatican website, reports that the citizens of the State are 618, including the 104 members of the Swiss Guards.
Fundamental Law of Vatican City State

Also in Law Atlas: found in this subject.

Lateran Treaty

Also in Law Atlas: found in this subject.

Source Lateran Treaty (Wikipedia)Lead [country-or-jurisdiction]
Quote, Lead [country-or-jurisdiction]
recognised Vatican City as an independent state under the sovereignty of the Holy See
Religious Law

Also in Law Atlas: found in this subject.

Source Major Legal Systems in the World TodayRene David and John E.C. Brierley
Tribunal of the Roman Rota

Also in Law Atlas: found in this subject.

Source Institutional Profile, Tribunal of the Roman Rota (Vatican)
Edelweiss

Also in Nature Atlas: found in this subject.

White Stork

Also in Nature Atlas: found in this subject.

Swiss Guard

Also in War and Military Atlas: found in this subject.

Source Wikidata: Swiss Guard
Sources
1. Vatican City (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia Foundation
  • Infobox
    Vatican City State
  • Infobox, capital
    Vatican City (city-state)
  • Infobox, area
    0.49 km2 (0.19 sq mi)
  • Infobox, 2024 estimate
    882
  • History section
    The independent state of Vatican City came into existence in 1929 via the Lateran Treaty
  • Introduction
    a landlocked sovereign city-state in Southern Europe
  • Introduction, enclave
    an enclave within the city of Rome, Italy
  • International status section
    Vatican City is one of the few widely recognized independent states that have not become members of the United Nations. The Holy See, which is distinct from Vatican City State, has permanent observer status, with all the rights of a full member except for a vote in the UN General Assembly.
View the Source
2. CIA World Factbook (factbook.json archive): The World Factbook archive: Vatican City
CIA World Factbook (factbook.json archive)
  • Government: Government type
    Government.Government type.text: ecclesiastical elective monarchy; self-described as an "absolute monarchy"
  • Geography: Coastline
    Geography.Coastline.text: 0 km (landlocked)
View the Source
Wikidata: Vatican City
Wikidata Q237, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)View the Source

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