Vatican

The Vatican, officially known as the Vatican City State (Italian: Stato della Città del Vaticano; Latin: Status Civitatis Vaticanae), is an independent city-state and enclave within Rome, Italy. Established in 1929 by the Lateran Treaty, it is the smallest internationally recognized independent state in both area and population. The Vatican serves as the spiritual and administrative center of the Roman Catholic Church and the residence of the Pope.

History

Early Beginnings

The Vatican has a history that preceded being a city-state. The Vatican Hill was an uninhabited area that was separated from the chief part of Rome by the Tiber River. It was mainly used as a burial ground in ancient times and later the site of Christian worship associated with Saint Peter, who was one of the apostles of Jesus Christ and the first Pope.

In the Roman Empire, many Christians were persecuted and martyred, including Peter, who was crucified near the Circus of Nero. His remains were interred in the necropolis in the Vatican area that would become the foundation of the Basilica of Saint Peter.

Papal States and Loss of Temporal Power

By the 8th century, the Pope gathered temporal power over a vast region in central Italy, which formed the Papal States. Therefore, these territories gave the political base to the papacy until the unification of Italy in the 19th century. In 1870, Italian troops annexed Rome thus putting an end to the temporal authority of the Pope and restricted him to the Vatican.

Establishment as a Sovereign State

The current status of the Vatican was codified on February 11, 1929, through the Lateran Treaty-an agreement signed by Cardinal Pietro Gasparri on behalf of Pope Pius XI and Benito Mussolini on behalf of King Victor Emmanuel III of Italy. This treaty recognized the Vatican as an independent state and granted it sovereignty while resolving long-standing disputes between the Church and the Italian government.

Geography

Location and Size

Vatican City is an enclave in the city of Rome and is only 44 hectares in area, about 110 acres. However, it does include several of the most renowned landmarks around the world: St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican Hill, the Sistine Chapel, and the Apostolic Palace. It contains its walled boundaries with entrance by way of a number of gates.

Climate

The Vatican has a Mediterranean climate characterized by mild and rainy winters, with hot and dry summers. Its position right in the heart of Rome means that it shares precisely the same weather conditions as the Italian capital.

Institutions

• The Holy See, metonymically called as The Vatican, the governing body of the worldwide Roman Catholic Church and city-state of Vatican City
• Roman Curia, the administrative apparatus of the Holy See
• Vatican Apostolic Archive
• Vatican Library
• Vatican Publishing House

Culture and Heritage

St. Peter's Basilica

The iconic Renaissance-era church in Vatican City

St. Peter's Basilica is one of the largest churches in the world, a masterpiece of Renaissance architecture. Designed by famous architects like Michelangelo and Bernini, it is the main pilgrimage site for Catholics, containing relics such as the supposed tomb of Saint Peter.

Vatican Museums

The Vatican Museums boast one of the largest art collections in the world, including Michelangelo's frescoes in the Sistine Chapel. These are visited by millions every year and contain works from the times of ancient Rome and the Renaissance onwards.

Libraries and Archives

The Vatican Apostolic Library houses a vast collection of manuscripts, books, and documents, some even from the early centuries of Christianity. The Secret Archives are not as secret; they are accessible to researchers and contain very important historical records.

Buildings

• Vatican Basilica, better known as St. Peter's Basilica
• Vatican Museums
• Vatican Palace, better known as Apostolic Palace

References

• The Vatican City State – History and Culture, Vatican’s Official Website. Accessed December 2024.
• Chadwick, Owen. A History of the Popes: From Peter to the Present. Oxford University Press, 2003.
• Walsh, Michael. The Vatican: The Center of the World. Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers, 2014.
• How to Get Into the Vatican City,” Enjoy City Tours Blog.
• Norwich, John Julius. The Popes: A History. Knopf, 2011.