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| Official Language:
| Official Language:
| Latin
| [[Latin]]
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| Population:
| Population:
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| Government:
| Government:
| Elective, Theocratic Monarchy
| Elective, [[Theocratic Monarchy]]
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|-
| Head of State:
| Head of State:
| Pope Benedict XVI
| [[Pope Benedict XVI]]
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The '''State of the Vatican City''' (or simply '''Vatican City''' or '''Holy See''') is an independent state of which the head of state and ruler is the Bishop of Rome — the [[Pope]], and the highest state functionaries are all clergymen of the [[Roman Catholic Church]]. The Vatican City houses the [[Holy See|Government of the Roman Catholic Church]] and is surrounded by the city of [[Rome]]. Until 1871 the Pope held civil power over a considerable territory, called the [[Papal States]]. This land was made a part of [[Italy]] during the unification of 1871. By the Treaty of the Lateran in 1929, Italy restored the Pope's temporal, or civil, power within the confines of Vatican City, which totals 108.7 acres in area.
The '''State of the Vatican City''' (or simply '''Vatican City''' or '''Holy See''') is an independent state of which the head of state and ruler is the Bishop of Rome — the [[Pope]], and the highest state functionaries are all clergymen of the [[Roman Catholic Church]]. The Vatican City houses the [[Holy See|Government of the Roman Catholic Church]] and is surrounded by the city of [[Rome]]. Until 1871 the Pope held civil power over a considerable territory, called the [[Papal States]]. This land was made a part of [[Italy]] during the unification of 1871. By the Treaty of the Lateran in 1929, Italy restored the Pope's temporal, or civil, power within the confines of Vatican City, which totals 108.7 acres in area.
==Government and Institutions==
==Government and Institutions==
The Pope exercises supreme legislative, executive, and judicial power over the Holy See and the State of the Vatican City. Pope Benedict XVI, former [[Cardinal]] Joseph Ratzinger of Germany, was elected and invested on April 19 and formally inaugurated on April 24, 2005.
The Pope exercises supreme legislative, executive, and judicial power over the Holy See and the State of the Vatican City. [[Pope Benedict XVI]], former [[Cardinal]] Joseph Ratzinger of Germany, was elected and invested on April 19 and formally inaugurated on April 24, 2005.
The term "Holy See" refers to the composite of the authority, jurisdiction, and sovereignty vested in the Pope and his advisers to direct the worldwide Roman Catholic Church. As the "central government" of the Roman 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. The Holy See has formal diplomatic relations with 175 nations, including the United States and many predominantly Muslim countries. The Holy See also maintains relations of a special nature with the Russian Federation and the Organization for the Liberation of Palestine.
The term "[[Holy See]]" refers to the composite of the authority, jurisdiction, and sovereignty vested in the Pope and his advisers to direct the worldwide Roman Catholic Church. As the "central government" of the Roman 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. The Holy See has formal diplomatic relations with 175 nations, including the United States and many predominantly Muslim countries. The Holy See also maintains relations of a special nature with the Russian Federation and the Organization for the Liberation of Palestine.
Created in 1929 to provide a territorial identity for the Holy See in Rome, the State of Vatican City is a recognized national territory under international law. The Holy See enters into international agreements and receives and sends diplomatic representatives.
Created in 1929 to provide a territorial identity for the Holy See in Rome, the State of Vatican City is a recognized national territory under international law. The Holy See enters into international agreements and receives and sends diplomatic representatives.