Vatican City is a tiny place on the map but colossal in spiritual, historical, and political influence . Within Renaissance walls, domes, and hidden gardens, this small state houses the global leadership of the Catholic Church , a breathtaking artistic heritage, and more than a few legends about secret archives, murky finances, and papal conspiracies.
To speak of the Vatican is to speak simultaneously of a sovereign country, the Holy See as a subject of international law, and a pilgrimage sanctuary . All of this is compressed into a mere 0,44 km², with fewer than a thousand inhabitants, yet with the capacity to influence public opinion, diplomacy, and headlines in every corner of the planet. Let's examine it in detail: its history, its political structure, its doctrine, its artistic treasures, and many of the intriguing facts that are rarely discussed.
What is the Vatican really and how is it organized?
The so-called Vatican City is, formally, the State of Vatican City, a sovereign, landlocked microstate completely surrounded by the city of Rome. It is the smallest country in the world both in area (0,44 km²) and population (around 800 inhabitants according to the latest official counts), and functions as an absolute, elective, theocratic monarchy.
The head of the Vatican City State is the Pope, who holds executive, legislative, and judicial powers . According to international classification, it is a theocracy in the form of an elective monarchy: the pontiff is elected by the cardinals in conclave and governs indefinitely until his death or resignation. Currently, the papacy is held by Leo XIV, successor to Francis after the 2025 conclave , continuing a line that began with Pius XI, the first pontiff of the Vatican as an independent state.
Although often confused in everyday language, “Vatican City” and “Holy See” are not the same . The former is the territory-state; the latter is the institution that heads the Catholic Church and possesses its own international legal personality. In fact, it is the Holy See, not the Vatican City State, that maintains diplomatic relations and signs most international agreements , while the microstate provides territorial and sovereign support for this spiritual and political mission.
The Vatican City is so densely urbanized that St. Peter's Basilica and Square occupy nearly a fifth of its total area . Its highest point is Vatican Hill, and despite its minuscule size, the country is bordered by Italy for approximately 4 km. Its ISO code is VAT, its internet domain is .va, its currency is the euro, and it operates on Central European Time (CET/CEST).
Interestingly, the Vatican Constitution does not establish an official state language , although in practice Italian predominates for daily administration and Latin is the official language of the Holy See, especially in the liturgy and doctrinal documents. The demonym is Vatican , and the form of government is completed by a Pontifical Commission that acts as a delegated legislative body.
A brief history: from the Papal States to today's micro-state
To understand the current Vatican City State, one must go back many centuries to the ancient Papal States . From 756, with Pope Stephen II, the popes ruled extensive territories on the Italian peninsula as temporal sovereigns. These domains, which included Rome, remained, with constant border changes, well into the 19th century.
The 19th century was a rollercoaster ride for papal power . In 1798, French troops arrested Pius VI; in 1806, Napoleon took Pius VII prisoner in the midst of the Napoleonic Wars. Later, during the Italian unification, the troops of King Victor Emmanuel II gradually reduced the papal domains: in 1860 they seized a large part of the territories, and in 1870 they captured Rome, which became the capital of the Kingdom of Italy.
After the annexation of Rome, the Pope found himself in a precarious position: he remained the spiritual leader, but without any recognized territory of his own . This was the period when he was described as a “prisoner in the Vatican,” confined to the palaces and basilicas of Vatican Hill, while Rome and the former Papal States were integrated into the new Italian nation.
The solution came with the Lateran Treaties, signed on February 11, 1929, between Cardinal Pietro Gasparri, on behalf of the Holy See, and Benito Mussolini, head of the Italian government. Through this treaty, the State of Vatican City was officially created, encompassing its current 44 hectares. Its full sovereignty was recognized, and, paradoxically, the conflict between a fascist regime and a Church that had lost its temporal power was resolved. The first governor of the new state was the numismatist Camillo Serafini.
Since 1929, the Vatican has experienced key moments that blend spirituality and geopolitics : the condemnation of Nazism in Pius XI's encyclical Mit brennender Sorge (1937), Pius XII's complex neutrality during World War II, the opening of the Second Vatican Council by John XXIII (1962) and its closing by Paul VI (1965), the very long and media-driven pontificate of John Paul II, the unprecedented resignations of Benedict XVI and the recent one of Francis, or the profound reform of the Fundamental Law culminated in 2023 under Francis himself.
In 1984, UNESCO declared the entire territory of Vatican City a World Heritage Site , in what constitutes a unique case: an entire State recognized as a cultural asset in its entirety, thanks to the density of its monuments, archives, gardens and art collections.
Climate, territory and extraterritorial properties
The Vatican City's climate is essentially the same as Rome's: temperate Mediterranean , with mild, rainy winters, hot, very dry summers, and an average annual temperature of around 15°C. It rains about 80 days a year, with a peak in autumn and a notable minimum in midsummer.
Although the country is tiny, Vatican territory is complemented by several extraterritorial properties scattered throughout Rome and its surroundings . These are not technically part of the state, but they enjoy extraterritorial privileges under the Lateran Treaties. Among them are the great basilicas of St. John Lateran (the Pope's cathedral as Bishop of Rome), St. Mary Major, and St. Paul Outside the Walls.
Also considered extraterritorial are places like the Palace of Castel Gandolfo and its gardens, the former summer residence of the popes ; several palaces in the center of Rome (the Apostolic Chancery, the Palace of San Callisto, the Vicariate, the headquarters of Propaganda Fide, among others); and the television center of Santa Maria di Galeria. In all these spaces, even though they are on Italian soil, a kind of legal and functional immunity applies to the Holy See.
Within the Vatican itself, the Vatican Gardens stand out, occupying approximately half of its surface area . Their origins date back to the 13th century, when Pope Nicholas III walled off the northern area and planted orchards, vineyards, and gardens. Today, they are a haven of peace with fountains, sculptures, plant species from around the world, and privileged views of St. Peter's Basilica.
In urban planning terms, Vatican City is the most densely built-up country on the planet . There is hardly any free space outside the gardens: the basilica, the square, the apostolic palaces, museums, offices, the small train station, the Santa Marta residence, the Swiss Guard residence, and several residential buildings complete a mosaic where every square meter has a story.
Political structure and internal governance
On the political front, the Vatican is probably the most peculiar experiment in sovereignty in the contemporary world . The Pope concentrates all power, but exercises it through a network of bodies that combine canonical tradition with modern state structures.
The Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State acts as a delegated legislative body . It is composed of a president and six cardinals appointed by the Pope for five-year terms. The norms it issues must be submitted to the Pope, through the Secretariat of State, before their publication in the Acta Apostolicae Sedis , the official bulletin where laws, regulations, and instructions are disseminated.
The President of the Commission also serves as President of the Governorate of Vatican City State and, in practice, as the de facto head of government. He manages the administrative departments, can issue ordinances, and, in urgent cases, enact decrees with the force of law, always subject to subsequent confirmation by the Commission. Since 2025, the position has been held by Raffaella Petrini , the first woman to occupy this top executive role.
During periods of sede vacante—following the death or resignation of the Pope—power rests with the College of Cardinals . This collegial body administers ordinary affairs, although it is restricted in its power to enact new laws, and its primary mission is to convene and hold the conclave to elect the new pontiff in the Sistine Chapel.
Internal security is divided between the Pontifical Swiss Guard and the Gendarmerie Corps . The former is a striking armed corps with Renaissance-inspired uniforms, composed of approximately one hundred single, Catholic Swiss men with military training, whose primary mission is the close protection of the Pope and the most sensitive access points. The gendarmes, for their part, function as a modern police force: border control, traffic management, criminal investigations, public order, and coordination with Italian authorities.
Election of the Pope and the role of the conclave
In the Vatican, there are no elections as in other democracies; the major "electoral event" is the papal conclave . This is the assembly of the College of Cardinals convened to elect the Bishop of Rome, successor of Saint Peter and supreme authority of the Catholic Church.
Historically, the Pope was elected by consensus between the clergy and the people of Rome , but in 1059 the election was formally reserved to the College of Cardinals. Over time, rules were established to prevent external pressures. After the very long interregnum of 1268-1271, Pope Gregory X decreed that the cardinals should lock themselves away " cum clave "—under lock and key—until they reached an agreement, the origin of the modern conclave.
The modern rules of procedure are set out in the apostolic constitution Universi Dominici gregis of John Paul II , with subsequent modifications by Benedict XVI. Only cardinals under the age of 80 may vote (a rule established by Paul VI in 1970), and a qualified majority of two-thirds of the votes is required for the new pontiff to be validly elected.
The conclaves are held in the Sistine Chapel, beneath Michelangelo's frescoes, adding a symbolic dimension that is impossible to ignore . The last conclave took place on May 8, 2025, when the cardinals elected Robert Francis Prevost as Pope Leo XIV, the first American pontiff and the second from the Americas.
The sense of mystery surrounding the conclave—smoke, isolation, oaths of secrecy—is part of the Vatican's aura . In practice, the process combines age-old protocols with very precise rules to guarantee freedom of vote and prevent external political interference.
International relations and diplomacy of the Holy See
Although Vatican territory is tiny, the Holy See's diplomatic network rivals that of the major powers . At the beginning of 2014, it maintained full bilateral relations with 180 states, a number that has continued to grow with new recognitions and special agreements, such as the one with Palestine.
The Holy See acts as a subject of international law distinct from Vatican City State . This means it can sign treaties, send and receive ambassadors (apostolic nuncios), and participate in international organizations on behalf of the universal Church. Papal diplomacy has medieval roots, with legates sent to European courts as early as the 11th century, and was formally recognized at the Congress of Vienna in 1815 and the Vienna Convention of 1961.
The Vatican City State itself is a member of several specific organizations related to telecommunications, postal services, security, and administration , such as the Universal Postal Union, the International Telecommunication Union, Interpol, CEPT, and the International Grains Council. In others, the Holy See participates as a member or as a permanent observer.
The embassies accredited to the Holy See are not located on Vatican City grounds, but in various buildings scattered throughout Rome , due to a lack of space. Only in exceptional circumstances—such as during the Second World War—were diplomatic personnel housed within Vatican City.
This contrast between a physical microstate and a diplomatic macropower is one of the most unique features of the Vatican's religious and political discourse . Its voice on issues of human rights, peace, disarmament, and migration continues to carry weight that transcends its population or GDP.
Population, citizenship and daily life in the Vatican
Living within the Vatican walls is not a matter of free choice; it is almost always a matter of duty . The resident population numbers around 700-800 people, although the number of Vatican citizens is higher, as it includes diplomats stationed in other countries.
Vatican citizenship is functional and exceptional in the world: it is neither acquired by birth nor inherited . It is granted to those who hold an office for the Holy See or the State (the Pope, cardinals, Curia staff, Swiss Guards, certain laypeople and their families), and is lost upon leaving office. Almost all of them also retain another citizenship—Italian, Swiss, or others—to avoid becoming stateless.
One of the most striking facts is the very low proportion of female residents : barely a few dozen, mostly nuns, wives of members of the Swiss Guard or workers of Vatican institutions, which represents a minimal percentage of the total population.
The birth and death figures are equally peculiar . On average, approximately one baby is born each year (usually the child of a Swiss Guard) and about five people die, meaning that the demographic dynamics depend primarily on the comings and goings of clergy and diplomatic personnel.
Outside the circles of power and liturgy, the Vatican also functions as a small city of internal services : there is a supermarket, pharmacy, gas station, post offices, telecommunications services, and a small transportation system (including a train station connected to the Italian network and a heliport). Many lay employees commute daily from Rome to work in museums, offices, or technical departments.
Economy, Vatican bank and financial control
The Vatican's economy is as unique as its political structure: it does not levy traditional taxes on its citizens or its own companies . Its income comes primarily from donations from the faithful (the famous Peter's Pence), contributions from episcopal conferences, profits from its museums, ticket sales, publications, souvenirs, philatelic and numismatic issues, property rentals, and the revenue from certain internal services.
The Institute for the Works of Religion (IOR), popularly known as the "Vatican bank," has been the center of numerous controversies . Created to manage funds destined for religious and charitable works, it has been tainted by corruption and money laundering scandals, such as the infamous Banco Ambrosiano case in the 80s, linked to the mafia and the abrupt death of its director, Roberto Calvi.
In recent decades, popes have promoted profound reforms to subject Vatican finances to international standards of transparency . Under John Paul II, the economic administration was restructured, and under Francis, bodies such as the Council for the Economy, the Secretariat for the Economy, and the office of Auditor General were created through the motu proprio Fidelis dispensator et prudens (2014).
The Council for the Economy, currently chaired by Cardinal Reinhard Marx with a lay vice-coordinator, oversees the financial management of the dicasteries of the Curia and the State itself . It is composed of cardinals and lay experts from various countries and ensures that the accounts balance and comply with regulations against money laundering and illicit financing.
Among the most striking economic curiosities is the high per capita wine consumption , exceeding that of many wine-producing countries. This is largely due to the combination of a very small population and the extensive sacramental use of wine in the liturgy. Added to this is a thriving trade in stamps, commemorative coins, and souvenirs, which are especially prized by collectors worldwide.
Art, architecture and great religious symbols
The visible heart of the Vatican's religious heritage beats in stone, marble, and frescoes: St. Peter's Basilica, St. Peter's Square, the Sistine Chapel, and the Vatican Museums . Together they form a unique artistic conglomerate, where geniuses such as Bramante, Raphael, Michelangelo, Bernini, and Maderno worked.
St. Peter's Basilica, built between the 16th and 17th centuries on the site of an earlier Paleochristian basilica of Constantine, is one of the largest churches in the world . Its floor plan, its colossal dome designed by Michelangelo, and its Baroque façade by Carlo Maderno encapsulate centuries of architectural evolution: from Bramante's Greek cross plan to the lengthening of the nave to increase capacity.
Inside is housed the famous sculpture of La Pietà , an early work by Michelangelo . This image suffered a brutal attack in 1972 when a disturbed individual struck it with a hammer, destroying part of the Virgin's face and an arm. After a meticulous restoration process, it was decided to protect it behind bulletproof glass, which has not prevented it from continuing to produce a profound emotional impact on those who contemplate it.
St. Peter's Square, designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini in the 17th century, was conceived as a grand embrace of colonnades welcoming pilgrims . Its two semicircles of 284 Tuscan columns, topped by 140 statues of saints, open around the monumental central obelisk brought from Egypt and erected in its current position after a highly complex operation directed by Domenico Fontana under Pope Sixtus V.
Vatican Museums, Library and Archives
The Vatican Museums form one of the largest and most important museum complexes on the planet . They originated, in large part, from the collection of classical sculptures of Julius II, housed in the Belvedere courtyard, and have expanded over the centuries with galleries, palaces, and new sections.
Among its most famous rooms are the Pio-Clementino Museum, the Gregorian Egyptian and Etruscan Museum, the Vatican Pinacoteca and the Gallery of Maps , where forty enormous 16th-century cartographic frescoes are exhibited depicting the Italian peninsula from north to south with an amazing level of detail.
The Raphael Rooms—the former apartments of Julius II—decorated by Raphael himself and his workshop, are another highlight of the visit . There you will find frescoes such as "The School of Athens," a visual manifesto of Christian humanism at the very heart of papal power.
The Vatican Apostolic Library and the Vatican Apostolic Archives (formerly the “Secret Archives”) are two less visible but fundamental treasures . The library houses hundreds of thousands of volumes, codices, and manuscripts, while the archives preserve more than 50 linear kilometers of documents, from letters of kings and emperors to the acts of councils and famous trials such as that of Galileo Galilei.
Despite the aura of mystery, some of these funds are available to accredited researchers, and some documents have been digitized . The term "secret" originally referred to the "private" nature of the archive, not to a repository of apocalyptic prophecies. Even so, access remains highly regulated, and this fuels countless theories, novels, and films.
Science, academies and astronomical observatory
The Vatican is not only about liturgy and art; it has also developed intense scientific activity through its academies . In 1936, Pius XI created the current Pontifical Academy of Sciences, heir to a 19th-century institution, headquartered in the Casina Pio IV. Its mission is to promote research in mathematics, physics, natural sciences, medicine, neuroscience, and related disciplines.
Its ranks have included, or are currently including, figures such as Alexander Fleming, Jennifer Doudna, Emmanuelle Charpentier, Edward Witten, Cédric Villani, and Francis Collins . Membership in this academy does not imply religious affiliation; what is valued is scientific excellence, and academic freedom is guaranteed to debate issues ranging from cosmology to bioethics.
The Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences, created later, expands this approach to sociology, economics, demography, law or political science , providing analysis and recommendations on contemporary challenges such as inequality, migration, work or globalization.
The Vatican Observatory, whose origins date back to the 16th century, embodies another little-known facet . Although light pollution from Rome forced the relocation of its scientific instruments to Arizona (where it operates the Vatican Advanced Technology Telescope in collaboration with the University of Arizona), it remains an active member of the International Astronomical Union and promotes research in astrophysics and cosmology.
In parallel, the Vatican participates in forums where science, philosophy and theology intersect , exploring topics ranging from the origin of the universe to artificial intelligence, including genetics and neuroscience, always with an eye on the relationship between faith and reason.
Curiosities, myths and cultural life
All sorts of curiosities and urban legends circulate around the Vatican, making it a magnet for journalists, tourists, and mystery lovers . Some are true, others have been exaggerated, and a few are simply fantasies.
One of the most shocking statistics is that the Vatican tops the world list for crime per capita . The trick is that virtually all crimes are petty thefts and robberies committed by tourists or pickpockets in St. Peter's Square and the museums, and these are tallied against a tiny population, which inflates the rate.
Vatican gastronomy also has its share of anecdotes . In 2006, a book was published that traces the cuisine of the popes from antiquity to the present day, including symbolic menus such as that of the Last Supper, the invention of sauces like "verde" and "carmelita," and the favorite dishes of various pontiffs. Some even joke that, amidst all the banquets, wine, and desserts, more than one pope has tested the virtue of temperance.
The Vatican even has its own football team and a small internal championship . The national team, made up of Swiss Guards, members of the Curia, and museum staff, plays occasional friendly matches, while seminarians in Rome participate in the "Clerical Cup." However, the Vatican City State has never sent a delegation to the Olympic Games.
In the media sphere, the Vatican has its own newspaper ( L'Osservatore Romano ), radio station (Vatican Radio), and television station (Vatican Television Center) , in addition to a strong digital presence through official websites and social media. Thus, religious information emanating from its walls travels in real time to the entire world.
All this intricate web of history, doctrine, diplomatic power, unrivaled art, unusual curiosities, and daily life makes the Vatican a unique case : a tiny state that concentrates centuries of faith, theological debates, political intrigues, and artistic beauty like few other places on the planet, and that continues to project its shadow—and its light—far beyond its 44 walled hectares.
