Vatican City, or the Vatican, is a sovereign city-state located in Rome, Italy. It is surrounded by walls, and has a population of about 800 people. The Vatican sits on about 110 acres and is home to the Pope, the leader of the Catholic Church.
Vatican City came into existence in 1929 with the Lateran Treaty, which spoke of Vatican City as a new creation, and not as a reminder of the Papal States that were previously in central Italy. But for hundreds of years before the Vatican was created, Popes lived in the area where the Vatican now stands. Before 1377, Popes resided on Caelian Hill, on the opposite side of Rome.
A full half of Vatican City is filled with gardens, consisting of priceless works of art, fountains, and sculptures. Vatican City also holds several properties scattered about Rome and Italy, and those are openly shared with the public. St. Peter’s Basilica, the Sistine Chapel, various museums, and St. Peter’s Square are all features of Vatican City. The Apostolic Palace, in Vatican City, is the residence of the Pope.
The Pope has complete control over Vatican City in one of the world’s few non-hereditary monarchies. The Vatican is one of the few countries who is not a member of the United Nations; rather, it remains a permanent observer state, neutral to conflict. Because of the small size of Vatican City, it is one of the few countries that cannot host a foreign embassy.
Vatican City has its own police force, known as the Corpo della Gendarmeria. This police force handles all criminal investigations, law enforcement, public order, traffic control, and the like. Vatican City also has its own bank, it’s own currency, and is a non-commercial state, sustained only by the sale of postage stamps, periodicals, museum admissions, and tourist mementos.
The Vatican Library and the Vatican Museum contain what is considered some of the rarest, most priceless items in world history. Under the Hague convention, the works of art in Vatican City are protected in the event of armed conflict — meaning that to destroy or damage them is considered an international crime.
But Vatican City is looking forward as well — soon it will become the first carbon-neutral nation in the world, offsetting the carbon footprint by the growth of sustainable forests, and setting an example for the rest of the modernized world.
Vatican City is currently home to Pope Benedict XVI, and it the site of pilgrimages for not only Catholics, but those who are interested in the history of the Catholic Church and the priceless works of art it has collected over the centuries.