Joshua Bennett
The Vatican, officially known as the Vatican City State, is a landlocked sovereign state and city-state. It is the seat of the Catholic Church and the Pope, the spiritual leader of the Roman Catholic Church. The Vatican became the centre of the Catholic faith in the 4th century AD when a basilica was constructed over St. Peter's tomb. The area became a popular pilgrimage site and commercial district. The Vatican became its own country in 1929 after the signing of the Lateran Treaty, which established Vatican City as a sovereign entity distinct from the Holy See.
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What You'll Learn
The Vatican is the seat of the Pope
The history of the Vatican as the seat of the Catholic Church began with the construction of a basilica over St. Peter's tomb in Rome in the 4th century AD. St. Peter is considered the first pope and is thought to have lived and died in Rome. The area became a popular pilgrimage site and commercial district. In the 6th century, Pope Symmachus built a residence adjacent to St. Peter's Basilica, which was later expanded by Popes Eugene III and Innocent III.
The Vatican's independence as a state was established in 1929 with the signing of the Lateran Treaty between the Holy See and the Kingdom of Italy. This agreement recognised the Vatican as a separate entity from the Holy See and provided it with temporal jurisdiction and independence within its small territory. The Vatican has its own unique characteristics, such as its own telephone system, post office, gardens, astronomical observatory, radio station, banking system, and pharmacy.
The Vatican is home to some of the world's most famous churches and museums, including St. Peter's Basilica, the Sistine Chapel, and the Vatican Museums. It has a small population of around 1,000 people, with most inhabitants being priests or nuns, alongside laypersons engaged in various occupations. The Swiss Guard, a contingent responsible for the Pope's safety since 1506, is also among its residents.
As the centre of the Catholic faith, the Vatican holds significant religious and cultural importance for approximately 1.2 billion followers of the Catholic Church worldwide. It serves as the physical territory where the spiritual leadership of the Pope and the governance of the Holy See converge, making it a unique and influential place in the Catholic faith.
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St. Peter's Basilica was built over St. Peter's tomb
The Vatican is the seat of the Pope, the spiritual leader of the Roman Catholic Church. It is also home to St. Peter's Basilica, one of the world's largest churches, built over the tomb of St. Peter, one of Jesus' apostles and the first Bishop of Rome (Pope).
St. Peter's Basilica is a church of the Italian High Renaissance located in Vatican City. It was initially planned in the 15th century by Pope Nicholas V and then Pope Julius II to replace the ageing Old St. Peter's Basilica, which was built in the 4th century by Roman emperor Constantine the Great. Construction of the present basilica began on 18 April 1506 and was completed on 18 November 1626. The basilica was designed principally by Donato Bramante, Michelangelo, and Carlo Maderno, with piazza and fittings by Gian Lorenzo Bernini.
The site of St. Peter's tomb is alleged to be near the west end of the Vatican Necropolis, a complex of mausoleums that date between about AD 130 and AD 300. The Necropolis complex was partially torn down and filled with earth to provide a foundation for the building of the first St. Peter's Basilica during the reign of Constantine I in about AD 330. Constantine I chose the site of Peter's tomb to promote Christianity as the dominant religion of the empire. Knowing that the new temple was built around the tomb of such an important figure in the Christian tradition would surely attract believers.
The actual tomb was underground, in a small shrine believed to mark the burial place of St. Peter. Saint Peter's tomb includes several graves and a structure said by Vatican authorities to have been built to memorialize the location of Saint Peter's grave. The burial chambers were uncovered in 1939 as workmen dug a tomb for Pope Pius XI. Over the next ten years, Ludwig Kaas oversaw an archaeological excavation of the pagan mausoleum complex under the foundations of St. Peter's Basilica. Many bones have been found at the site, but none could be confirmed to be Saint Peter's with absolute certainty.
St. Peter's Basilica is famous as a place of pilgrimage and for its liturgical functions. The pope presides at a number of liturgies throughout the year, both within the basilica and the adjoining St. Peter's Square. The liturgies draw audiences numbering from 15,000 to over 80,000 people.
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The Vatican's wealth and power in the Middle Ages
The Vatican, officially known as the Vatican City State, is a landlocked sovereign state and city-state ruled by the Pope. It is an enclave within Rome and serves as the administrative centre of the Catholic Church. The Vatican is the seat of the Pope, the spiritual leader of the Roman Catholic Church, and houses St. Peter's Basilica, built over the tomb of St. Peter, one of Jesus' apostles and the first Pope.
During the Middle Ages, the Catholic Church gained vast influence across Europe, making the papacy one of the most powerful institutions of the time. The "Donation of Constantine", a document that surfaced in the Middle Ages, claimed that Emperor Constantine had bestowed vast lands in Western Europe and worldly power upon the Pope. This document was used by popes for many years to assert their authority over kings and lands.
The Vatican's wealth also flourished during the Renaissance as popes became influential patrons of the arts, commissioning works from masters such as Michelangelo and Raphael. This patronage not only increased the Vatican's wealth but also transformed it into a cultural powerhouse, solidifying its long-standing legacy.
Today, the Vatican derives its income from various sources, including voluntary contributions from over a billion Roman Catholics worldwide, interest on investments, and the sale of stamps, coins, and publications. It maintains its own banking system, with expenditures and operations being publicly reported since the early 1980s.
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The Vatican's involvement in European politics
The Vatican, officially known as the Vatican City State, is a landlocked sovereign state and the administrative centre of the Catholic Church. It is an enclave within Rome and is ruled by the Pope, who is the spiritual leader of the Roman Catholic Church. The Vatican has been recognised as an independent state since 1929, when the Lateran Treaty was signed with Italy.
One notable example of the Vatican's involvement in European politics was its role in the Treaties of Westphalia in 1648, which ended the Thirty Years' War. The Vatican served as a legitimate mediator in these negotiations, highlighting its diplomatic influence. Additionally, the Vatican supported the explorations of Catholic monarchs during the Age of Discovery and issued the papal bull Inter caetera in 1493, dividing newly discovered lands between Spain and Portugal. This demonstrated the Vatican's political and economic ambitions beyond Europe.
The Vatican has also been involved in more recent political events, such as World War II, where it maintained neutrality and was respected by both Axis and Allied powers. The Vatican has been criticised and defended for its actions during the Holocaust and the rise of fascism in Europe.
Furthermore, the Vatican's stance on ethical issues, such as family, migration, and social justice, has influenced global discussions and shaped policies. The Vatican's involvement in humanitarian efforts and collaboration with international organisations has further enhanced its global reach and influence.
Overall, the Vatican's involvement in European politics has been multifaceted and has evolved over time. Through its diplomatic endeavours, moral leadership, and humanitarian efforts, the Vatican continues to exert influence and shape political affairs in Europe and beyond.
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Vatican City's independence and sovereignty
The Vatican City, officially the Vatican City State, is a landlocked sovereign state and city-state. It is an enclave within Rome and serves as the administrative centre of the Catholic Church. The Vatican is the seat of the Pope, the spiritual leader of the Roman Catholic Church.
The Vatican City State was created in 1929 by the Lateran Treaty, which was signed by Prime Minister Benito Mussolini on behalf of King Victor Emmanuel III and by Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Gasparri for Pope Pius XI. The treaty recognised Vatican City as an independent state under the sovereignty of the Holy See. The Holy See is the governing body of the Catholic Church and is itself a sovereign entity recognised under international law. The Vatican City State provides the Holy See with temporal jurisdiction and independence within a small territory.
The Pope exercises principal legislative, executive, and judicial power over the Vatican City State, which is a rare case of a non-hereditary absolute monarchy. The Vatican has its own transport network, telephone system, post office, gardens, astronomical observatory, radio station, banking system, and pharmacy. It also maintains embassies in numerous foreign nations.
Vatican City has a strong historical tendency towards being an independent religious state, free from the influence of other kingdoms and rulers. The Pope's power and influence have been so significant that even kings ruled with his blessing. This tendency towards independence was further strengthened by the Lateran Treaty, which resolved the long-standing conflict between the Holy See and the Italian government.
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Frequently asked questions
Vatican City became the center of the Catholic faith in 1929 after the signing of the Lateran Treaty.
St. Peter's Basilica is built over the tomb of St. Peter, one of Jesus' apostles and the first pope.
The Vatican is the seat of the Pope, the spiritual leader of the Roman Catholic Church. It is also home to the Swiss Guards, who have been responsible for the Pope's safety since 1506.
The Holy See is the governing body of the Catholic Church and predates the Vatican City. It is a sovereign entity recognized under international law.
The Vatican is the physical territory, while the Holy See is the central governing body of the Catholic Church, comprising the Pope and the Roman Curia.
