Which is the Smallest Country in the World?

Vatican City is the official home of the pope of the Roman Catholic Church (Citta del Vaticano). It is the smallest independent state in the world with an area of 0.4 square kilometer. It is most frequently referred to as the Vatican or Holy See. The Vatican City is surrounded by Rome, Italy's capital city. The pope oversees the administration of his church, which has more than a billion followers, from this location. The Pope is elected by the College of Cardinals, who are appointed by the Pope, and serves for life or until he chooses to resign.

The pope's supreme authority was exercised through the establishment of this city-state. Swiss Guards have been in charge of the pope's personal security. Vatican City has its own postal service, radio station, and newspaper, as well as its own euro coins and postage stamps. While it is an independent city-state, it maintains diplomatic relations with many countries and is a member of several international organizations. The products used for basic residential needs are all imported. It receives funding as the Holy See from voluntary donations made by more than a billion Roman Catholics worldwide.

Tourist Attractions

Vatical City attracts a large number of tourists each year due to its magnificent churches and museums, as well as its peaceful areas.

• The Basilica of St. Peter: This is one of Vatican City's most popular tourist attractions. It is the world's largest church and home to many important works of art, including Michelangelo's Pietà and Bernini's Baldacchino.

• Saint Peter's Square: Here, the Pope delivers his weekly address in the spacious area in front of St. Peter's Basilica. It is also a well-liked location for taking pictures.

• Castel Sant'Angelo: This is a fortress located just outside the Vatican City walls. It was originally designed as a mausoleum for the Roman Emperor Hadrian, but it was later transformed into a fortress. Visitors can walk the ramparts of the castle and enjoy panoramic views of the city.

• The Vatican Museums: The Vatican Museums house an extensive collection of art and artefacts by famous artists such as Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, and Caravaggio. The Sistine Chapel, which features Michelangelo's famous ceiling frescoes, is one of the most popular exhibits.

• Vatican Library: The Vatican Library is one of the world's oldest and largest libraries, with over 1.1 million printed books and over 75,000 manuscripts. The library is not open to the public, but some of the collection is on display in the exhibition space.

History of Establishing the Vatican City

The Vatican was established as the state of the pope by the Lateran Treaty and the Concordat of Feb. 11, 1929 - an agreement between the Holy See and the Italian government. The former Papal States, which had been in existence since the eighth century, were abolished in 1870. These papal lands totaled 44,000 square kilometers and were spread over central Italy during the 19th century. Rome was one of these republics and served as the center of papal authority ever since the popes left France for Avignon in 1377. Each subsequent pope remained a "voluntary prisoner of the Vatican," never leaving the constrained papal grounds, as a protest against their incorporation into a united Italy.

Nearly 60 years went by under this condition. Finally, talks with the Holy See were launched by the Italian fascist administration of Benito Mussolini. The outcome of these sessions was the Lateran Treaty and the Concordat.

The treaty established a territory of 109 acres on Vatican Hill as an independent state with the pope as absolute sovereign. In doing so, it acknowledged that the papacy needed to be completely free of all political authority on the secular level. The treaty ensures that the borders of the Vatican state are set in stone and cannot be altered. The popes also have authority over several regions outside of Vatican City where the church maintains operations or has historical interests.

Italy switched to a republican system of government on June 10, 1946. Its new constitution, adopted in December 1947, provided for the continuance of the Lateran Treaty and the Concordat, which had worked well since their inception in 1929. The Concordat, which had made Roman Catholicism the country of Italy's official religion, was annulled in 1985.