Facts about Vatican
The Vatican's official website languages are Italian, German, English, French, Spanish, and Portuguese.
The only passports issued by the Vatican are diplomatic passports.
The pope is a non-hereditary, elected monarch who exercises absolute authority—supreme legislative, executive and judicial power over the Vatican City.
The Vatican Library and the collections of the Vatican Museums are of the highest historical, scientific, and cultural importance.
Vatican City is a non-hereditary, elected monarchy that is ruled by the Bishop of Rome—the Pope.
Prior to reforms made by Pope Paul VI (reigned 1963-1978), a large number of nobles existed within the government of the Vatican.
The popes were undisturbed in their Vatican palace, and given certain recognition by the Law of Guarantees, including the right to send and receive ambassadors.
The Vatican City State has the distinction of having the smallest and oldest regular army in the world, the Swiss Guard.
The Lateran Treaty provides that in the event a Vatican citizen has his or her original nationality revoked and also loses Vatican citizenship, he or she will be automatically granted Italian citizenship.
The Vatican obelisk was originally taken by Caligula from Heliopolis to decorate the spina of his circus and is thus its last visible remnant.
Vatican City has its own post office, fire brigade, police service, commissary (supermarket), bank, railway station, electric plant, and publishing house.
Terms of citizenship are defined in the Lateran Treaty, and laws concerning the creation of the Vatican state in 1929 sought to restrict the number of people who could be granted Vatican citizenship.
The Vatican has no set official language, it can be changed at any moment by the current Pope.
Pope Pius IX (1846-1878), the last ruler of the Papal States, claimed that after Rome was annexed he was a "Prisoner in the Vatican."
L'Osservatore Romano is the semi-official Vatican newspaper, published daily in Italian, and weekly in English, Spanish, Portuguese, German, and French (plus a monthly edition in Polish).
Almost all of Vatican City's 558 citizens either live inside the Vatican's walls or serve in the Vatican's diplomatic corps in embassies (called "nunciatures"; a papal ambassador is a "nuncio") around the world.
Euro coins and notes were introduced in January 1, 2002—the Vatican does not issue euro banknotes.
Citizenship of Vatican City is conferred upon some of those who have been appointed to work in certain capacities at the Vatican, and it is usually revoked upon the termination of their employment.
The name "Vatican" is ancient and predates Christianity, coming from the Latin Mons Vaticanus, Vatican Hill.
Despite its minuscule size, as the veritable headquarters of the Catholic Church, the Vatican's influence on world affairs is disproportionately immense by virtue of its moral and spiritual authority.
The Vatican citizenry consists almost entirely of two groups: clergy working as officials of the Vatican as a state or of the Catholic Church; and the Swiss Guard.
Most of the 3,000 lay workers who comprise the majority of the Vatican work force reside outside the Vatican and are citizens of Italy, while a few are citizens of other nations.
External defense is handled by the surrounding state of Italy, since the Vatican has no navy and no air force.
Providing a territorial identity for the Holy See, Vatican City State is a recognized national territory under international law.
The Vatican has also been given a radio ITU prefix, HV, and this is sometimes used by amateur radio operators.
The Lateran Treaty and the Concordat established the independent State of the Vatican City and granted Catholicism special status in Italy.
Vatican Radio, which was originally organized by Guglielmo Marconi, today offers short- medium- and long-wave and broadband service around the world.
The Vatican Library and the collections of the Vatican Museums are of the highest historical, scientific, and cultural importance.
Vatican City, officially State of the Vatican City (Latin: Status Civitatis Vaticanae), is a landlocked sovereign city-state whose territory consists of a walled enclave within the city of Rome.
During the period of employment citizenship may also be extended to a Vatican citizen's spouse.
The territory of Vatican City includes part Vatican Hill and adjacent former fields where St. Peter's Basilica, the Apostolic Palace, the Sistine Chapel, and Vatican museums now stand, along with various other buildings.
Television services are provided through another entity, the Vatican Television Center.
Vatican City is also home to cultural treasures such as St. Peter's Basilica, the Sistine Chapel and the Vatican museums, featuring some of the world's most famous paintings and sculptures.
Until the adoption of the Euro, Vatican coinage and stamps were denominated in their own Vatican lira currency, which was on par with the Italian lira.
Visa Required: Citizens from the USA, Canada, Australia and most European nations do not require visa to travel to Vatican City, only a valid passport is required. The length of stay varies for each of these countries, though (mostly up to 90 days). Holders of the Schengen visa can also enter Vatican City.
Dress Code for Visiting the Vatican Museums. The dress code for visiting the Vatican is the same that applies when you visit any church in Italy. ... When visiting the Vatican Museums in Rome all visitors males and females should wear as a minimum clothing that covers both their shoulders and knees.