CIA World Fact Book, 2004/Holy See (Vatican City)


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!| Background:
 * Popes in their secular role ruled portions of the Italian peninsula for more than a thousand years until the mid 19th century, when many of the Papal States were seized by the newly united Kingdom of Italy. In 1870, the pope's holdings were further circumscribed when Rome itself was annexed. Disputes between a series of "prisoner" popes and Italy were resolved in 1929 by three Lateran Treaties, which established the independent state of Vatican City and granted Roman Catholicism special status in Italy. In 1984, a concordat between the Holy See and Italy modified certain of the earlier treaty provisions, including the primacy of Roman Catholicism as the Italian state religion. Present concerns of the Holy See include religious freedom, international development, the Middle East, terrorism, the failing health of Pope JOHN PAUL II, interreligious dialogue and reconciliation, and the application of church doctrine in an era of rapid change and globalization. About 1 billion people worldwide profess the Catholic faith.
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!| Location: !| Geographic coordinates: !| Map references: !| Area: water: 0 sq km land: 0.44 sq km !| Area - comparative: !| Land boundaries: border countries: Italy 3.2 km !| Coastline: !| Maritime claims: !| Climate: !| Terrain: !| Elevation extremes: highest point: unnamed location 75 m !| Natural resources: !| Land use: permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (urban area) (2001) !| Irrigated land: !| Natural hazards: !| Environment - current issues: !| Environment - international agreements: signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution, Environmental Modification !| Geography - note:
 * Southern Europe, an enclave of Rome (Italy)
 * 41 54 N, 12 27 E
 * Europe
 * total: 0.44 sq km
 * about 0.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
 * total: 3.2 km
 * 0 km (landlocked)
 * none (landlocked)
 * temperate; mild, rainy winters (September to mid-May) with hot, dry summers (May to September)
 * low hill
 * lowest point: unnamed location 19 m
 * none
 * arable land: 0%
 * 0 sq km (1998 est.)
 * NA
 * NA
 * party to: none of the selected agreements
 * urban; landlocked; enclave in Rome, Italy; world's smallest state; outside the Vatican City, 13 buildings in Rome and Castel Gandolfo (the pope's summer residence) enjoy extraterritorial rights
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!| Population: !| Population growth rate: !| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: !| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: !| HIV/AIDS - deaths: !| Nationality: adjective: none !| Ethnic groups: !| Religions: !| Languages: !| Literacy: total population: 100% male: NA female: NA
 * 921 (July 2004 est.)
 * 0.01% (2004 est.)
 * NA
 * NA
 * NA
 * noun: none
 * Italians, Swiss, other
 * Roman Catholic
 * Italian, Latin, French, various other languages
 * definition: NA
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!| Country name: conventional short form: Holy See (Vatican City) local short form: Santa Sede (Citta del Vaticano) local long form: Santa Sede (Stato della Citta del Vaticano) !| Government type: !| Capital: !| Administrative divisions: !| Independence: !| National holiday: !| Constitution: !| Legal system: !| Suffrage: !| Executive branch: head of government: Secretary of State Cardinal Angelo SODANO (since 1 December 1990) cabinet: Pontifical Commission appointed by the pope elections: pope elected for life by the College of Cardinals; election last held 16 October 1978 (next to be held after the death of the current pope); secretary of state appointed by the pope election results: Karol WOJTYLA elected pope !| Legislative branch: !| Judicial branch: note: judicial duties were established by the Motu Proprio of Pius XII on 1 May 1946 !| Political parties and leaders: !| Political pressure groups and leaders: !| International organization participation: !| Diplomatic representation in the US: telephone: [1] (202) 333-7121 FAX: [1] (202) 337-4036 chancery: 3339 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 !| Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy: Villa Domiziana, Via delle Terme Deciane 26, 00153 Rome mailing address: PSC 59, Box 66, APO AE 09624 telephone: [39] (06) 4674-3428 FAX: [39] (06) 575-8346 !| Flag description:
 * conventional long form: The Holy See (State of the Vatican City)
 * ecclesiastical
 * Vatican City
 * none
 * 11 February 1929 (from Italy); note - the three treaties signed with Italy on 11 February 1929 acknowledged, among other things, the full sovereignty of the Vatican and established its territorial extent; however, the origin of the Papal States, which over the years have varied considerably in extent, may be traced back to the 8th century
 * Coronation Day of Pope JOHN PAUL II, 22 October (1978)
 * new Fundamental Law promulgated by Pope John Paul II on 26 November 2000, effective 22 February 2001 (replaces the first Fundamental Law of 1929)
 * based on Code of Canon Law and revisions to it
 * limited to cardinals less than 80 years old
 * chief of state: Pope JOHN PAUL II (since 16 October 1978)
 * unicameral Pontifical Commission
 * there are three tribunals responsible for civil and criminal matters within Vatican City; three other tribunals rule on issues pertaining to the Holy See
 * none
 * none (exclusive of influence exercised by church officers)
 * CE (observer), IAEA, ICFTU, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM (guest), OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, UN (observer), UNCTAD, UNHCR, UPU, WIPO, WToO (observer), WTrO (observer)
 * chief of mission: Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Gabriel MONTALVO
 * chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant)
 * two vertical bands of yellow (hoist side) and white with the crossed keys of Saint Peter and the papal miter centered in the white band
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!| Economy - overview: !| Population below poverty line: !| Household income or consumption by percentage share: highest 10%: NA !| Labor force: !| Labor force - by occupation: !| Budget: expenditures: $260.4 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2002) !| Industries: !| Electricity - production: !| Electricity - consumption: !| Electricity - exports: !| Electricity - imports: !| Economic aid - recipient: !| Currency: !| Currency code: !| Exchange rates: !| Fiscal year:
 * This unique, noncommercial economy is supported financially by an annual contribution from Roman Catholic dioceses throughout the world, as well as by special collections (known as Peter's Pence); the sale of postage stamps, coins, medals, and tourist mementos; fees for admission to museums; and the sale of publications. Investments and real estate income also account for a sizable portion of revenue. The incomes and living standards of lay workers are comparable to those of counterparts who work in the city of Rome.
 * NA
 * lowest 10%: NA
 * NA
 * essentially services with a small amount of industry; note - dignitaries, priests, nuns, guards, and 3,000 lay workers live outside the Vatican
 * revenues: $245.2 million
 * printing; production of coins, medals, postage stamps, a small amount of mosaics and staff uniforms; worldwide banking and financial activities
 * NA kWh
 * NA kWh
 * 0 kWh
 * NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by Italy
 * none
 * euro (EUR)
 * EUR
 * euros per US dollar - 0.886 (2003),1.1324 (2002), 1.1175 (2001), 1.0854 (2000), 0.9386 (1999)
 * calendar year
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!| Telephones - main lines in use: !| Telephones - mobile cellular: !| Telephone system: domestic: tied into Italian system international: country code - 39; uses Italian system !| Radio broadcast stations: !| Radios: !| Television broadcast stations: !| Televisions: !| Internet country code: !| Internet hosts: !| Internet Service Providers (ISPs): !| Internet users:
 * NA
 * NA
 * general assessment: automatic exchange
 * AM 3, FM 4, shortwave 2 (1998)
 * NA
 * 1 (1996)
 * NA
 * .va
 * 9 (2004)
 * NA
 * NA
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!| Highways: !| Ports and harbors: !| Airports:
 * none; all city streets
 * none
 * none (2003 est.)
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!| Military branches: !| Military - note:
 * Swiss Guards Corps (Corpo della Guardia Svizzera)
 * defense is the responsibility of Italy; Swiss Papal Guards are posted at entrances to the Vatican City to provide security and protect the Pope
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