Vatican City

Vatican City is a sovereign city-state enclosed within Rome, Italy. It is the territorial seat of the pope and the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church.

Lateran Treaty: The 1929 agreement between the Holy See and Italy that recognized Vatican City as an independent state. It established Vatican City’s sovereignty and defined its territory.
Holy See: The central governing authority of the Catholic Church, led by the pope, and a subject of international law. It conducts diplomacy and governs the Church, while Vatican City supplies its territorial base.
Rome: The capital of Italy and a major city in the Lazio region. Vatican City is an enclave within Rome.
Vatican diplomacy: The diplomatic relations conducted by the Holy See with states and international organizations. The Holy See’s international standing is distinct from Vatican City’s territorial sovereignty.
Lateran Pacts: The 1929 agreements between Italy and the Holy See, comprising a treaty, a financial convention, and a concordat. They settled relations between Italy and the papacy and recognized Vatican City.
Papal States: A series of territories in central Italy ruled by the popes from the eighth century until 1870. Their loss preceded the creation of the modern Vatican state.
Pope: The bishop of Rome and supreme pastor of the Catholic Church. The pope is sovereign of Vatican City and heads the Holy See.
Enclave and exclave: A territory wholly surrounded by another political territory is an enclave; from its own state’s perspective, it is an exclave. Vatican City is enclosed by Italy, though it is not an exclave of another Italian region.
Roman Curia: The institutions that assist the pope in governing the Catholic Church. Its offices operate from Vatican City while exercising authority across the worldwide Church.
World Heritage Site: A place recognized by UNESCO for cultural or natural heritage of outstanding universal value. Vatican City was inscribed as a World Heritage property in its entirety.

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