ly See (Vatican City) Introduction

Background: Popes in their secular role ruled much 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 Vatican 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 the failing health of Pope John Paul II,
interreligious dialogue and reconciliation, and the adjustment of
church doctrine in an era of rapid change and globalization. About 1
billion people worldwide profess the Catholic faith.

Holy See (Vatican City) Geography

Location: Southern Europe, an enclave of Rome (Italy)

Geographic coordinates: 41 54 N, 12 27 E

Map references: Europe

Area: total: 0.44 sq km

land: 0.44 sq km

water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative: about 0.7 times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC

Land boundaries: total: 3.2 km

border countries: Italy 3.2 km

Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims: none (landlocked)

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

Terrain: low hill

Elevation extremes: lowest point: unnamed location 19 m

highest point: unnamed location 75 m

Natural resources: none

Land use: arable land: 0%

permanent crops: 0%

permanent pastures: 0%

forests and woodland: 0%

other: 100% (urban area)

Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1993)

Natural hazards: NA

Environment - current issues: NA

Environment - international agreements: party to: none of the
selected agreements

signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution, Environmental Modification

Geography - 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

Holy See (Vatican City) People

Population: 890 (July 2001 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.15% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: