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Yes, the smallest country in the world by both area and
population, being approximately 44 hectares (110 acres) (0.44 km2) and a
population of around 900, Vatican City is a landlocked sovereign city-state
whose territory consists of a walled enclave within the city of Rome, the
capital city of Italy.
It is situated on the
Vatican Hill in the west-central part of Rome, several hundred metres west of
the Tiber river. Its borders (3.2 kilometres (2.0 mi) in total, all within
Italy) closely follow the city wall constructed to protect the Pope from
outside attack. The situation is more complex at the famous St. Peter's Square
in front of St. Peter's Basilica, where the correct border is just outside the
ellipse formed by Bernini's colonnade, but where police jurisdiction has been
entrusted to Italy
It came into existence in 1929 and is thus distinct from the central authority
of the Roman Catholic Church, known as the Holy See, which existed long before
1929. Ordinances of Vatican City are published in Italian; official documents
of the Holy See are issued mainly in Latin. The two entities even have distinct
passports: the Holy See, not being a country, only issues diplomatic and
service passports; the state of Vatican City issues normal passports. In both
cases the passports issued are very few.
Vatican City is an ecclesiastica or sacerdotal-monarchical
state, ruled by the bishop of Rome—the Pope. The highest state functionaries
are all clergymen of the Roman Catholic Church. It is the sovereign territory
of the Holy See (Sancta Sedes) and the location of the Pope's residence,
referred to as the Apostolic Palace.
The Pope is ex officio head of state and head of government
of Vatican City, functions dependent on his primordial function as bishop of
the diocese of Rome. The term Holy See refers not to the Vatican state but to
the Pope's spiritual and pastoral governance, largely exercised through the Roman
Curia. His official title with regard to Vatican City is Sovereign of the State
of the Vatican City.
The current Pope is Benedict XVI, born Joseph Alois
Ratzinger in Bavaria, Germany.
-By Rajeev Mavani
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