Vatican City has a rich history dating back to the 1st century AD. It was established as an independent city-state in 1929 and is the smallest country in the world both by area and population. The flag of Vatican City features the crossed keys of St. Peter and the Papal Tiara. Famous landmarks include the Sistine Chapel, St. Peter's Basilica, and St. Peter's Square. The Pope serves as the absolute monarch and bishop of Rome. Vatican City has a population of around 900 citizens and uses Italian as its primary language. It is governed as an elective theocratic absolute monarchy.

1. BRIEF HISTORY
Vatican City was born upon a small portion of Rome. The name “Vatican” which means
Vatican mount. That unpopulated area saw its beginnings in the 1st
Century AD, when Agrippina
the Elder, granddaughter of the first emperor of Roman Empire, drained the hill and environs and
built her gardens there, then, in time, the location has been developing until it gained its first
church in 326, the Constantinian Basilica. For much of the time through history Vatican is not
habitual residence of the Pope.
Vatican City State created in February 11, 1929. Smallest country in the world by both
population and area.
The Flag
The flag consists of two vertical bands, one of gold or yellow (hoist side) and one of
white with the crossed keys of Saint Peter and the Papal Tiara centered in the white band. The
crossed keys consist of a golden and a silver key, in which the silver key is placed in the dexter
position. The flag is one of only two square country flags in the world, the other being the flag of
Switzerland.
The Vatican City coat of arms can be found in the white half. The coat of arms consists
of:
 the papal tiara (as used under the pontificate of Pius XI);
 the two keys which represent the keys to Heaven (according to the Gospel of
Matthew 16:19) given by Jesus Christ to St. Peter. The popes are regarded as the
successor of Peter, and the gold and silver keys have been significant elements in the
symbolism of the Holy See since the 13th century. The gold represents spiritual
power, while the silver key represents worldly power. The order of the keys on the
coat of arms of Vatican City is the reverse of the coat of arms of the Holy See, in
order to distinguish between the two entities.
 a red cord connecting the keys.
The yellow and white of the flag also refer to the keys – in heraldic terminology, there is
no distinction between yellow and gold (the metallic color or), nor between white and silver.
The flag is flown or displayed worldwide in Roman Catholic churches and institutions,
usually alongside the national flag of where the church or institution is located.
Famous Landmarks
 Sistine Chapel
 The Chapel has garnered much attention because of its amazing and intricate architecture
and artwork that was carved and painted by some of the greatest artist of all time. It has a
12,000 square foot painted ceiling, parts of which were painted by Michelangelo. The
paintings depict the life of Christ and Moses and took two to three years to complete. The
most popular uses of the Sistine Chapel are the masses on Christmas Eve and Easter.
During these days Vatican City is crowded with tourist and locals looking to be a part of
the ceremonies.

2.  St. Peter’s Basilica
 One of the four basilicas that Rome has. It is officially known as Basilica di San Pietro in
Vatican and it is located in the Vatican City, Italy. This basilica is where St. Peter was
buried. Since then, many popes have been buried in the basilica as well. St. Peter was the
one of the twelve apostles of Jesus and later became the Bishop of Rome. St. Peter’s
Basilica attracts many visitors and pilgrims. St. Peter’s Basilica is considered to be one of
holiest and the largest of all the Catholic churches in Christendom. The main building is
very impressive and stands 138 meters tall. Its passage is about 218 meter long. The
interior artwork consists of the Pieta by Michelangelo, Papal Altar by Bernini and the
monument to the Starts by Canova.
 St. Peter’s Square
 One of the major attractions of the Vatican City. Many pieces of art along its corridors,
like the Obelisk 24 meters high sculpture stand tall right at the center of St. Peter’s
square. The Colonnade made by Bernini as the entrance to the square, carrying 140
sculptures of saints. The St. Peter’s Square Façade lies a sculpture carved out of marble
showing Peter receiving the keys from Jesus.
 The Gardens of Vatican City
 A place of quiet and meditation for the popes since 1279 when Nicholas III (Giovanni
Gaetano Orsini) move his residence back to the Vatican from the Lateran Palace.
Pope
 Bishop of Rome
 Head of the state of Vatican City
 Successor of Saint Peter
 Popes security is the Pontifical Swiss Guard
 Vicar of Jesus Christ
 Supreme Pontiff of Universal Church
 Primate of Italy
 Metropolitan Archbishop of the Province of Rome
 Servant of Servants of God
 Pope Francis (Jorge Mario Bergoglio) is the present Pope
 Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina
 Elected on March 13, 2013
 He is the first use to take the name Francis. First Jesuit Pope and the first Pope from the
Latin America.
Population
 900 citizens, live inside the Vatican walls or serve in the Holy See’s diplomatic service in
embassies called papal ambassador.
 Consist almost entirely two groups, the clergy and the swiss guard and some very few
official of the state.
 There is formally enacted official language, but in the Holy See which most often uses
Latin for the authoritative version of its official documents.
 Vatican City uses only Italian in its legislation and official communications.

3.  In the Swiss Guard, German is the language used for giving command but individual
guards take their oath of loyalty in their own languages, German, Italian, French or
Romansh.
Vatican City
 Absolute theocratic elective monarchy
 The Pope is the head of the Catholic Church and exercises ex-officio supreme executive,
legislative and judiciary power over the state of the Vatican City.
 Non-hereditary monarchy
Election
 The pope is elected in the Conclave.
 Composed of all cardinal electors
 The Conclave is held in the Sistine Chapel, where all the electors are locked in until the
election for which a two-thirds majority is required. The faithful can follow the results of
the polls by a chimney-top, visible from St. Peter’s Square; in a stove attached to the
chimney are burnt the voting papers, and additives make the resulting smoke black in
case of no election, white when the new pope is finally elected.
 The Dean of the Sacred College will then ask the freshly elected pope to choose his
pastoral name, and as soon as the pope is dressed with the white habit, the Senior
Cardinal – Deacon appears on the major balcony of St. Peter’s façade to introduce the
new pope with the famous Latin sentence “Annuntiovobisgandium magnum:
habemuspapam, means I announce to you a great joy. We have a Pope.
Executive
 Pope is ex-officio sovereign of the Vatican City State.
 The pope delegates executive authority to the President of the Pontifical Commission for
Vatican City State, who is ex-officio President of the Governorate.
 The President appointed by the Pope for five year term
 The President reports all important matters to the secretariat of state.
Legislative
 Unicameral Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State, appointed by the Pope,
operates as legislative branch, proposing law and policy to the Pope, Laws and policies
passed by the commission must be approved by the Supreme Pontiff, through the
Secretariat of State, and be published in the Italian-language supplement of the
ActaApostolicaeSecis that deals Vatican City State matters.
Judiciary
 The Pope’s judicial authority is exercised through the Prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of
the Apostolic Signatura, law serves also as the President of the Cassation Court of
Vatican City (highest court of Appeal)
 The judicial system of Vatican City consist of:
o a sole judge – with limited jurisdiction
o a tribunal – with four members
o a court of appeal – with four members
o a Supreme Court – with three members