What government does Vatican city have
When people think of the Vatican City they most likely think of its religious artwork and the Pope. But how much do you know of its governance? How did the Vatican become its own city-state?
Vatican City is famous throughout the world for a heaven of incredible artwork and rich Italian culture, but what people may not know is its governance. It is the smallest independent city-state in the world, despite being surrounded by the capital city of Rome. So how did it become its own country? And who is in charge?
History of Vatican
The Vatican City became an independent city-state on the 11th February 1929 by the Lateran Treaty signed by the Holy See and the Italian government. That’s the short story, to find out more we need to go back in time before 1929, and look at the build up to this date.
As with most things in Italy, the beginnings of the Vatican started during the Roman Empire when the area was just a marshy region called Ager Vaticanus. The region soon came to be populated by expensive villas and even a circus for Roman entertainment. The rise of Christianity was not taken kindly by the Roman Empire however, who believed in their own deities and saw this new religion as a great threat. According to legend, it was at the base of Vatican Hill that Emperor Nero executed St. Peter and other Christians in 64 AD, where they were then buried in necropolis. It wasn’t until Emperor Constantine I came to power that Christianity was embraced by the Romans and he began constructing a basilica over St. Peter’s tomb in 324 AD. St. Peter, being the leader of the early church, was an important figure in Catholicism. Therefore the Basilica soon became a spiritual centre for Christian pilgrims, leading to the development of housing for clergymen and the formation of a marketplace that became the thriving commercial district of Borgo. The wall surrounding the Vatican City was built in 846 AD after a load of Saracen pirates damaged the Basilica and other areas of the thriving community. The 39-foot wall still stands today and encloses the whole Vatican territory as well as the Borgo district.
Over time much of the district has been expanded and developed, including the construction of the grand residence adjacent to St Peter’s Basilica and further developments done to the city’s walls. In 1277 a half-mile long, secret passageway was assembled to link the Castel Sant’Angelo with the Vatican City. Known as the Passetto di Borgo in Italian, the passageway is an 800-metre long corridor that was used as an escape route for the Pope when he found himself in danger. Other important features which make up the Vatican City include the Apostolic Palace built in 1450, the famed Sistine Chapel constructed in the 1470s and the foundations of the Vatican library started by Nicholas V. The most significant changes, however, came in the 16th century with Pope Julius II, who commissioned Michelangelo to paint the Sistine Chapel ceiling and tapped architect Donato Bramante to design the Belvedere Courtyard. Following his death there were decade-long debates about how to continue the project which was finally ended when Michelangelo made the solo-decision to carry on with the plans made by the artists before him.
Government of Vatican
More confusion and debate ensued when the unified Italian government claimed virtually all of the land outside the city’s walls in the 19th century. Traditionally, Popes held power over regional territories known as the Papal States. This was until 1870 when the Italian government stepped in and tried to take control. The Pope retreated into Vatican City’s walls, refusing to acknowledge the Kingdom of Italy as a country. Instead of forcing him out of the Vatican, Italy assumed they would simply wait until the Pope cracked. This was an assumption that soon fell through however, and a standoff began between the Church and secular government, which lasted for the next 60 years, with numerous popes accepting this self-imposed captivity. It wasn’t until 1929 that an agreement was reached which involved the signing of the Lateran Pacts. The pacts established Vatican City as a sovereign entity distinct from the Holy See, and granted the church $92 million as compensation for the loss of the Papal States. A deal worth waiting for it seems!
The Holy See, which translates to the Church having the ‘seat of government’. It is a monarchy in which the Pope is the ‘king’, with the Pope themselves being voted in by the College of Cardinals. The Pope is in control of executive, legislative, and judicial power over the city, but due to their large expanse of duties, delegation is necessary. There are numerous bodies of authorities and senior members that are appointed by the Pope. For example, legislative areas are delegated to the Pontifical Commission for the Vatican State. Executive authority is deputized to the President of this commission who is also named the President of the Governorate of Vatican City.
As of today, the Vatican remains the home of the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church for some 1.2 million followers. Whether you’re a follower or not, the Vatican is a remarkable place with so much to see and do!
Do popes marry?
Pope Francis, the 266th pope of the Roman Catholic Church has been credited for his humility and modern approach to the papacy, breaking traditions that had been upheld be popes for more than a century. What other rules must members of the church follow?
Tending to over one billion Catholics today it’s no surprise that being Pope comes with an immense bout of responsibility. Most Popes are prepared for this as most are cardinals before they are elected. There are two main simple rules when becoming Pope; number one, you have to be male; number two, you have to be Catholic. But other than this, almost anyone can become Pope. It might surprise people to know that you don’t have to be a certain age, with the youngest Pope to date being Pope John XII, who was 18 years old when he ascended the papacy in 955. However, the rule books when you become Pope are a little stricter. You have to learn multiple languages, attend confession, meet with heads of state, lead mass services, and remain celibate.
This means the simple answer to this article’s question is no, Popes do not marry. However, this hasn’t stopped a few popes throughout history bending the rule books.
The Rules of Celibacy
Although for other Christian denominations and churches, celibacy has become more optional, in the Catholic Church it remains a strict rule. Celibacy by definition means abstaining from marriage and sexual relations. What’s the big deal right? Well considering this is a tradition that’s been upheld by the Catholic Church for over 900 years the answer is very. Before thisit was quite common for clergy to be married, encouraged even. As it says nothing explicitly in the bible about remaining celibate, it was once believed that members of the church should set a good example by marrying and bearing children, work set out by god. At some point in history, this changed and has never been the same since. For many, celibacy is a key part of being a Catholic priest, one who is supposed to devote himself to the Church and not be distracted by what some consider to be worldly concerns like a wife and family.
The History of Celibacy in the Catholic Church
Back in the first century, Popes, such as Peter and the other apostles, were all, for the most part, married men. However, Jesus Christ was unmarried and exercised a single-minded devotion to his beliefs and mission. In the New Testament, virginity, as well as celibacy, were seen as a gift from God to be embraced. Those who forego worldly possession and underwent poverty, chastity, and obedience, including sexual restraint was seen as the pursuit of holiness. Therefore, the Catholic Church’s pope, the purest and most moral member of the religion, were to remain celibate to focus entirely on their beliefs and the task at hand. Priests as well were asked to be celibate back in ancient times although this rule was broken many times throughout history.
Popes who broke this rule
There are plenty of Popes in history who, despite their vow of celibacy, have broken this rule. These include popes who were married, had long-term partners, lovers, and even a few that had children. Some Popes in history have even been known to be the son of previous Popes, who had been moulded into taking over. Hetero and Homosexuality have both been documented, with even abuse from offending Popes. For example, Pope Julius II who took the sacred oath of celibacy soon broke it when he took to having several mistresses and at least one illegitimate daughter.
Modern-day Views
Although the Pope still remains restricted to celibacy, the rule for priests in the Catholic Church is a topic of debate nowadays. With many believers and members of the church believing celibacy should be optional as it is in other Christian churches. Most recently the question of celibacy has arisen due to the proposal to allow married men to be ordained as priests in the Amazon. It is a matter that is so important to the Church that former Pope Benedict, who retired in 2013, felt he could not stay silent, breaking his pledge to remain “hidden from the world” following his retirement. He issued a defence of priestly celibacy in a book co-authored with Cardinal Robert Sarah. His successor, Pope Francis, however, who is known for his more progressive approach, is considering the proposal along with environmental issues and the role of women in the Church. The proposal concerning celibacy arose when South American bishops advocated it in an effort to address the shortage of priests in that region.
Some critics regard the idea of allowing married priests in the Amazon as a pretext to abolishing celibacy altogether. However, this is a big jump for them to make, and we won’t be sure about how the state of celibacy stands in the Church until Pope Francies makes a decision in the coming months.
Vatican Historical Museum
With a unique collection of portraits of the past popes, the Vatican Historical Museum is a great place to learn more about the history of the papacy and the city itself
The beautiful Vatican City houses an extensive collection of art, history, and culture. The city is famous for its large extension of museums, known as the Vatican Museums, which not only houses an extensive collection of art, archaeology and ethno-anthropology gathered by the Popes over the centuries, but also contains some of the Apostolic Palace’s most extraordinary and artistically significant rooms. These are otherwise known as the Vatican’s Historical Museum. Rooms dedicated to artefacts used and owned by the popes.
History of the Vatican Museums
The Vatican Historical Museum is just one section of the impressive Vatican Museums. Initially founded in 1973 by Pope Paul VI, the Historical Museum’s collection was at first hosted under the square garden. It wasn’t until 1987 that it was moved to the main floor of the Apostolic Palace of the Lateran, and opened again to the public in March 1991. The Vatican City’s Museums began in 1503, by the pope of that time – Pope Julius II. The museum’s assortment of pieces grew from affluent families, past popes, and future pope’s private collections became public. Vatican Museums grew in size, from the immense assortment of collections required more buildings to host the works and so this led to The Vatican Historical Museum.
The layout of the Vatican Museums
The museum was first hosted in the environments under the Square Garden, before it moved to the Lateran Palace, formally known as the Apostolic Palace of the Lateran. The building is beautifully designed, done in 1586 by Domenico Fontana, depicting beautiful ceiling decorations with detailed frescoes at the entrance. The palace which sits next to the Basilica of St. John Lateran to its left within the courtyard of the church with a common entry gate is a large apartment complex of the pope. Right at the entrance of the palace is an impressive staircase leading up to the high ceilings, where 10 refurbished halls host a series of frescoes from the Mannerist Age. The hall known as the Conciliation, was provided with allegories related to the papacy of Sixtus V. The other halls were named Constantine, Hall of Apostles, Emperors Room, Popes Room and so forth. The fresco decorations were on themes of the History of Rome, episodes of the Bible and the Gospel, making for an interesting narrative as you navigate your way around. Several colourful tapestries and Goblins also add to the aesthetic elegance of the halls, which we are lucky enough to see! It’s strange to think that such beauty and elegance wasn’t accessible to the public until 1991. Since then, the rooms have been exclusively used for exhibitions or displays moved from the Vatican Museums.
The Vatican museums?
The museum has been divided into two wings – the principal and the annex wing – making things easy for us. The principal wing is home to all the artistic and historical artefacts of the museum. The paintings of the papal states are shown here. Depicting the history of the past and the State of the Church who once ruled over a large amount of Italy, led by the Pope in the 8th century until 1870. Other memorabilia of the Papal States are shown here, including old documents, religious pieces, and ancient artefacts. Learn about the country’s history, which led to the Vatican City to become its own country. The second wing, the annex wing, is located on the ground floor of the building. And displays the larger historical items. These include the beautifully decorated carriages that led the pope around, as well as past saddles, wagons, and the very first car ever used by the Popes. It also had a model of the city’s first train engine, created in 1929. Illustrating the incredible engineering skills of the past citizens of the Vatican City.
The politics of Vatican City operate within a framework of a theocratic absolute elective monarchy. In this system, the Pope—who is both the leader of the Catholic Church and the Bishop of Rome—exercises, ex officio, supreme legislative, executive, and judicial authority over Vatican City, an entity distinct from the Holy See. This represents a rare form of non-hereditary monarchy.
The Pope is elected in the Conclave, which is composed of all cardinal electors under the age of 80, following the death or resignation of the previous Pope. The Conclave is held in the Sistine Chapel, where all electors are locked in (Latin: cum clave) until a new Pope is chosen. Election requires a two-thirds majority.
The faithful can follow the vote results through the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, visible from St. Peter’s Square. Voting papers are burned in a stove within the chimney, with additives producing either black smoke (fumata nera) if no election occurs, or white smoke (fumata bianca) when a new Pope is elected.
Once elected, the Dean of the Sacred College (Cardinale Decano) asks the Pope to choose a pastoral name. After donning the white cassock, the Senior Cardinal-Deacon (Cardinale Protodiacono) appears on the central balcony of St. Peter’s façade to announce the new Pope with the famous Latin phrase: Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum: habemus papam (“I announce to you a great joy: We have a Pope”).
The term “Holy See” refers to the authority, jurisdiction, and sovereignty vested in the Pope and his advisers to direct the worldwide Catholic Church. The Holy See is therefore distinct from Vatican City, which was created in 1929 through the Lateran treaties between the Holy See and Italy. As the central government of the Catholic Church, the Holy See has a legal personality that allows it to enter into treaties as the juridical equal of a state and to send and receive diplomatic representatives. It maintains formal diplomatic relations with 179 nations.
Vatican City itself is recognized under international law as a sovereign territory. Unlike the Holy See, it does not send or receive diplomatic representatives, with the Holy See acting on its behalf in international affairs.
Administration of Vatican City
Vatican City Flag and Government Structure
As in most monarchies, executive, legislative, and judicial power in Vatican City rests with the crown—in this case, the office of the Bishop of Rome, the Pope. While the Pope holds full authority, he typically exercises it through other bodies that act in his name.
The Pope commonly delegates the internal administration of Vatican City to various officials and institutions. According to the Fundamental Law of Vatican City State, “The Supreme Pontiff, sovereign of Vatican City State, has the fullness of legislative, executive, and judicial powers” over the state.
Legislative authority is delegated to the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State, a unicameral body established in 1939 by Pope Pius XII. The Commission has seven cardinals appointed by the Pope for five-year terms. Any laws it passes must be approved by the Pope through the Secretariat of State before they take effect.
The President of the Pontifical Commission also serves as President of the Governorate of Vatican City, overseeing the executive administration. The President is assisted by a Secretary General and a Vice Secretary General, all appointed by the Pope for five-year terms. Actions of the President require approval by the Commission. Various departments and offices under the Governorate handle communications, internal security, fire protection, and the Vatican Museums.
Security in Vatican City is provided by the Corpo della Gendarmeria, which functions as the state’s police force. The Pontifical Swiss Guard, by contrast, serves the Holy See rather than the city-state itself.
Palace of the Governorate of Vatican City State
Government of Vatican City
Since 1929, the Pope is ex officio sovereign of Vatican City State. He delegates executive authority to the President of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State, who also serves ex officio as President of the Governorate and is effectively the head of government. The President is appointed by the Pope for a five-year term but can be removed at any time.
The President reports all significant matters to the Secretariat of State, the Pope’s main advisory body, which is consulted on all issues, even those falling under the specific competence of the Pontifical Commission or other Curial bodies such as the Congregation for Catholic Education. The Secretariat of State does not hold direct responsibility for these matters, and the Cardinal Secretary of State is not considered the head of Vatican City or the departments of the Roman Curia beyond the Secretariat itself.
International Relations
Vatican City is a member of several international organizations, including CEPT, Eutelsat, the International Grains Council, Intelsat, ITU, and UPU. The state does not conduct direct diplomatic relations with other countries; these are handled by the Holy See.
Legislative Authority
The Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State serves as the legislative body. Members are appointed by the Pope, and the Commission proposes laws and policies to him. Before they take effect, all laws and policies must be approved by the Pope through the Secretariat of State and published in the Italian-language supplement of the Acta Apostolicae Sedis covering Vatican City matters.
The Councillors of the State provide consultation during the drafting of legislation. They may be consulted individually or collectively.
The Law of Vatican City and the seal of Vatican City State
Vatican City has a legal system distinct from that of Italy. The pope’s judicial authority is exercised through the Prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura, as he by law serves also as the President of the Cassation Court of Vatican City (i.e. the highest court of appeal).[9]
The population of the state is a few hundred. Each day outsiders come there to work. 18 million people visit there each year.
In one year its courts tried 640 civil cases and 226 penal cases.
The penal cases are usually for minor crimes such as pickpocketing. If such crimes are committed in Saint Peter’s Square, the perpetrators may be arrested and tried by the Italian authorities, since that area is normally patrolled by Italian police.
Under the terms of article 22 of the Lateran Treaty, Italy will, at the request of the Holy See, punish individuals for crimes committed within Vatican City and will itself proceed against the person who committed the offence, if that person takes refuge in Italian territory. Persons accused of crimes recognized as such both in Italy and in Vatican City that are committed in Italian territory will be handed over to the Italian authorities if they take refuge in Vatican City or in buildings that under the treaty enjoy immunity.
Vatican City has no prison system, apart from a few detention cells for pre-trial detention.People convicted of committing crimes in the Vatican serve terms in Italian prisons (Polizia Penitenziaria), with costs covered by the Vatican.
On 16 March 2020, it was announced that Pope Francis signed a new motu proprio into law on March 13, 2020 which reforms the Vatican’s judicial system. The motu proprio, titled Law CCCLI, updates the laws governing the Vatican’s judiciary system and also replaced the previous judicial system which was founded in 1987. The new law provides for greater independence of judicial bodies and magistrates dependent on the Pope. It also specifies the requirements for the appointment of judges and it simplifies the judicial system while increasing the staff of the court. Furthermore, it provides a head for the Office of the Promoter of Justice (prosecutor’s office), and sets out a standardized procedure for possible disciplinary action against certified advocates.
2013 “gay lobby” comment
In 2013 Pope Francis criticized the Vatican for having a “gay lobby” in remarks during a meeting held in private with some of the Catholic religious from Latin America, and he was said to have promised to see what could be done to address the issue.[20] In July 2013, he responded directly to journalists’ questions. He notably drew a distinction between the problem of lobbying and the sexual orientation of people: “If a person is gay and seeks God and has good will, who am I to judge?” “The problem”, he said, “is not having this orientation. We must be brothers. The problem is lobbying by this orientation, or lobbies of greedy people, political lobbies, Masoniclobbies, so many lobbies. This is the worse problem.”[21][22]
| History | History of the papacy“Prisoner in the Vatican“Circus of NeroOld St. Peter’s BasilicaPapal tombsLeonine CityCortile del BelvedereSanto Stefano degli UngheresiLateran TreatyBorgo NuovoBorgo VecchioPiazza Scossacavalli | |
|---|---|---|
| Geography | Major basilicaSt. Peter’s BasilicaChair of Saint PeterSt. Peter’s BaldachinPietàVatican Necropolis Saint Peter’s tombPapal tombsTomb of the JuliiMonument to the Royal StuartsApostolic PalaceRedemptoris Mater ChapelBorgia ApartmentsClementine HallPapal apartments Stufetta del cardinal BibbienaCappella PaolinaRaphael RoomsNiccoline ChapelSala RegiaScala RegiaSistine Chapel altarpiececeilingVatican MuseumsHistoricalPaintingsModern ReligiousPio-ClementinoChiaramontiGregoriano EtruscoGregoriano EgizianoPio CristianoEthnographicBramante StaircaseMapsGregorian TowerCasina Pio IVSant’Anna dei PalafrenieriDomus Sanctae MarthaeHoly Spirit ChapelGardensSanta Maria della Pietà in Camposanto dei TeutoniciCollegio TeutonicoTeutonic CemeteryMater Ecclesiae MonasterySant’Egidio in BorgoSanti Martino e Sebastiano degli SvizzeriPaul VI Audience Hall The ResurrectionPassetto di BorgoSan Pellegrino in VaticanoSt. Peter’s Square Via della ConciliazioneFountainsPorta San PellegrinoSaint John’s TowerSanto Stefano degli AbissiniVatican PharmacyVatican Hill | |
| Politics | ElectionsForeign relationsVicar GeneralLawCrimeFundamental LawGovernancePope FrancisCardinal Secretary of State Pietro ParolinGovernmentRoman Curia Apostolic CameraCommissions For Vatican City StateCouncilsCongregationsDicasteriesMilitaryCorps of GendarmerieSwiss GuardSee also: Corps of Firefighters | |
| Economy | BankingVatican euro coinsCommunications .va [Internet domain]Poste VaticanePostage stamps and postal historySecretariat for the EconomyTourismInfrastructureTransport RailHeliport | |
| Culture | Academy of Sciences AT telescopeobservatoryArchitectureDemographicsLanguagesMusic Sistine Chapel ChoirPhilatelic and Numismatic OfficePublic holidaysVatican LibraryfilmArchives Apostolic ArchiveVatican Climate ForestMediaHoly See Press Office Vatican Information ServiceVatican Media Vatican NewsVatican Television CenterVatican RadioL’Osservatore RomanoVatican Publishing House Acta Apostolicae SedisAnnuario PontificioVatican News AppPope2youReligionCatholic ChurchSymbolsAnthemCoats of armsFlag | |
| Sports | Amateur Sports AssociationNational football team (Men)National football team (Women)Vatican AthleticsVatican cricket team | |
| Vatican City portal Catholicism portal |
| eHoly See | |
|---|---|
| Apostolic episcopal see of Pope Francis as bishop of the Diocese of RomeSovereign subject of international law | |
| History | Apostolic seePrimacy of PeterHistory of papal primacyPatrimony of Saint PeterOld St. Peter’s BasilicaLateran Palace MuseumDuchy of RomeDonation of SutriDonation of PepinAvignon PapacyPapal States Temporal powerInvestiture ControversyAge of Revolution“Prisoner in the Vatican“Savoyard eraVatican City Lateran TreatyWorld War IIWarsaw Pact |
| Sovereign subject of international law (Legal status) |
OfficialsPope FrancisCardinal Secretary of State Pietro ParolinCardinals ListAdvisersGovernanceSecretariat of StateCollege of Cardinals Papal conclavetRoman Curia Apostolic CameraCommissions For Vatican City StateCouncilsCongregationsDicasteriesForeign affairs (Multilateral policy)Section for Relations with StatesTo the Holy SeeOf the Holy See HeadsItaly The Vatican City is the richest in the world which you will read in another article on this web |
