Holy See (Vatican City)

Defense note

defense is the responsibility of Italy; Swiss Papal Guards are posted at entrances to Vatican City

Radio broadcast stations

AM 3, FM 4, shortwave 0

Radios

NA

Telephone system

automatic exchange domestic: tied into Italian system international: uses Italian system

Telephones

2,000

Television broadcast stations

0

Televisions

NA Defense

Budget

revenues: $175.5 million expenditures: $175 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1994)

Currency

1 Vatican lira (VLit) = 100 centesimi

Economic overview

This unique, noncommercial economy is supported financially by contributions (known as Peter's Pence) from Roman Catholics throughout the world, the sale of postage stamps and tourist mementos, fees for admission to museums, and the sale of publications. The incomes and living standards of lay workers are comparable to, or somewhat better than, those of counterparts who work in the city of Rome.

Electricity

capacity: 5,000 kW standby production: power supplied by Italy consumption per capita: NA kWh (1992)

Exchange rates

Vatican lire (VLit) per US$1 - 1,583.8 (January 1996), 1,629.6 (1995), 1,612.4 (1994), 1,573.7 (1993), 1,232.4 (1992), 1,240.6 (1991); note - the Vatican lira is at par with the Italian lira which circulates freely

Fiscal year

calendar year

Industries

printing and production of a small amount of mosaics and staff uniforms; worldwide banking and financial activities

Labor force

NA by occupation: dignitaries, priests, nuns, guards, and 3,000 lay workers who live outside the Vatican

Area

total area: 0.44 sq km land area: 0.44 sq km comparative area: about 0.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC

Climate

temperate; mild, rainy winters (September to mid-May) with hot, dry summers (May to September)

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Environment

current issues: NA natural hazards: NA international agreements: signed, but not ratified - Air Pollution, Environmental Modification

Geographic coordinates

41 54 N, 12 27 E

Geographic note

urban; landlocked; enclave of 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

International disputes

none

Irrigated land

0 sq km

Land boundaries

total: 3.2 km border country: Italy 3.2 km

Land use

arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 100%

Location

Southern Europe, an enclave of Rome (Italy)

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Natural resources

none

Terrain

low hill lowest point: unnamed location 19 m highest point: unnamed location 75 m

Capital

Vatican City

Constitution

Apostolic Constitution of 1967 (effective 1 March 1968)

Data code

VT

Diplomatic representation in US

chief of mission: Apostolic Pro-Nuncio Archbishop Agostino CACCIAVILLAN chancery: 3339 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 333-7121

Executive branch

chief of state: Pope JOHN PAUL II (Karol WOJTYLA; since 16 October 1978) was 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); results - Karol WOJTYLA was elected for life by the College of Cardinals head of government: Secretary of State Archbishop Angelo Cardinal SODANO (since NA 1991) was appointed by the pope cabinet: Pontifical Commission was appointed by Pope

FAX

[39] (6) 5758346, 57300682

Flag

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

Independence

11 February 1929 (from Italy)

International organization participation

IAEA, ICFTU, Intelsat, IOM (observer), ITU, OAS (observer), OSCE, UN (observer), UNCTAD, UNHCR, UPU, WIPO, WToO (observer)

Judicial branch

none; normally handled by Italy

Legal system

NA

Legislative branch

unicameral Pontifical Commission

Name of country

conventional long form: The Holy See (State of the Vatican City) conventional short form: Holy See (Vatican City) local long form: Santa Sede (Stato della Citta del Vaticano) local short form: Santa Sede (Citta del Vaticano)

National holiday

Installation Day of the Pope, 22 October (1978) (John Paul II) note: Pope John Paul II was elected on 16 October 1978

Other political or pressure groups

none (exclusive of influence exercised by church officers)

Political parties and leaders

none

Suffrage

limited to cardinals less than 80 years old

Type of government

monarchical-sacerdotal state

US diplomatic representation

chief of mission: Ambassador Raymond L. FLYNN embassy: Villa Domiziana, Via Delle Terme Deciane 26, Rome 00153 mailing address: PSC 59, APO AE 09624 telephone: [39] (6) 46741

Ethnic divisions

Italians, Swiss

Languages

Italian, Latin, various other languages

Nationality

noun: none adjective: none

Population

840 (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate

1.15% (1996 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic

Airports

none

Highways

none; all city streets

Ports

none

Railways

total: 862 meters; note - connects to Italy's network at Rome's Saint Peter's station narrow gauge: 862 meters 1.435-m gauge