mparative area: about 0.7 times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC

_#_Land boundary: 3.2 km with Italy

_#_Coastline: none--landlocked

_#_Maritime claims: none--landlocked

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

_#_Terrain: low hill

_#_Natural resources: none

_#_Land use: arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures
0%; forest and woodland 0%; other 100%

_#_Environment: urban

_#_Note: 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

_*_People
_#_Population: 778 (July 1991), growth rate NEGL% (1991)

_#_Nationality: no noun or adjectival forms

_#_Ethnic divisions: primarily Italians but also Swiss and other
nationalities

_#_Religion: Roman Catholic

_#_Language: Italian, Latin, and various other languages

_#_Literacy: 100% (male NA%, female NA%)

_#_Labor force: high dignitaries, priests, nuns, guards, and 3,000
lay workers who live outside the Vatican

_#_Organized labor: Association of Vatican Lay Workers, 1,800 members
(1987)

_*_Government
_#_Long-form name: State of the Vatican City; note--the Vatican City
is the physical seat of the Holy See, which is the central government of
the Roman Catholic Church

_#_Type: monarchical-sacerdotal state

_#_Capital: Vatican City

_#_Independence: 11 February 1929 (from Italy)

_#_Constitution: Apostolic Constitution of 1967 (effective 1 March
1968)

_#_National holiday: Installation Day of the Pope (John Paul II),
22 October (1978); note--Pope John Paul II was elected on 16 October 1978

_#_Executive branch: pope

_#_Legislative branch: unicameral Pontifical Commission

_#_Judicial branch: none; normally handled by Italy

_#_Leaders:

Chief of State--Pope JOHN PAUL II (Karol WOJTYLA; since 16
October 1978);

Head of Government--Secretary of State Archbishop Angelo SODANO

_#_Political parties and leaders: none

_#_Suffrage: limited to cardinals less than 80 years old

_#_Elections:

Pope--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

_#_Communists: NA

_#_Other political or pressure groups: none (exclusive of influence
exercised b