Vatican City: history, government, and significance

¶ … Vatican City in Rome. Vatican City is actually a city-state located within the city of Rome, Italy. It came into existence in 1929, and is governed by the Pope. As a city-state, it is considered a country, making it the smallest country in the world, with only 800 residents. Before 1929, Popes had been living in the area that is now Vatican City since the 1300s, so the area has been considered holy for centuries.

Romans referred to the area known as the Vatican by that name since ancient times. It was a marshy area near the capital, where there were several villas and buildings. It gained religious importance because St. Peter was supposed to have been martyred in the area, and his tomb was built there (in St. Peter's Basilica) ("Vatican City in the Past"). Peter's tomb is the most ancient structure in the Vatican; it started construction around 324 A.D. Buildings began to appear around St. Peters, and Popes Eugene III (1145-1153) and Innocent III (1198-1216) built buildings there, as well. From 1309, the Pope moved to Avignon, France, and the Vatican area was left abandoned for over a century. The popes returned to the Vatican in 1377, but it was another two centuries before real building and expansion took place ("Vatican City in the Past").

The first great chapel built in the Vatican was the Sistine Chapel. The Vatican City Web site notes, "Between 1477 and 1480 Pope Sixtus IV (1471-1492) started building a great chapel, named 'Sistina' after him, decorated with frescoes painted by the major Italian painters of the time. It was inaugurated on 15th August 1483" ("Vatican City in the Past"). This of course, is the famous chapel where painter Michelangelo painted the ceiling, and it is still standing today. In the 16th century, Pope Julius II began many massive building projects, including a new St. Peter's Basilica, which Michelangelo designed and built. Julius also added the Belvedere Courtyard. Later, St. Peter's dome and St. Peter's Square were added to the Vatican, along with many other service buildings, museums, and facilities.

Vatican City was created in 1929 because of political change in Italy. Up until the mid-19th century, popes had acted as rulers over their particular territories in Italy. Then, Italy seized much of the land under their control. In 1870, they lost more territory when Italy annexed Rome. The issue was not resolved until 1929, when the Vatican City State was officially created. The CIA World Fact Book notes, "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" ("Holy See"). The Vatican City takes up about 110 acres in Rome, and it is a separate entity from the Holy See, which are the actual operations of the Catholic Church.

Even after the Vatican was established, there have been changes and modifications to the treaty. For example, "In 1984, a concordat between the Holy See and Italy modified certain of the earlier treaty provisions, including the primacy of Roman Catholicism as the Italian state religion" ("Holy See"). All the business of the Catholic Church takes place in the Vatican, but it is a popular tourist destination, too. There are many museums throughout the Vatican that also have a long history. The first museum's collection was artwork, mainly sculptures, collected by Pope Julius II. The Etruscan Museum was formed in 1837, and the Egyptian Museum in 1839, with more museums following their example. These museums all merged into one museum within the Vatican in 1970. Of course, many of the Basilicas, such as St. Peter's and St. Paul's are considered museums in their own rights, as well. In all, there are eleven museums in the Vatican, along with everything from a publishing house to a telephone service, pharmacy, and television studio.

Other than being the smallest country in the world, there are many other interesting facts about the Vatican. For example, it has been a long-standing tradition that Swiss Guards (perhaps for the Swiss lack of political involvement in disputes) guard the Pope, and that continues to this day in the Vatican. Vatican City is about 110 acres total, and they have their own police force, newspaper, television studio, and radio station that broadcasts in 29 languages. There is no capital punishment in the Vatican, and very little crime. While the Pope and his clergy live inside the Vatican, the entire population is not made up of clergy. There are about 3,000 lay workers who work at the Vatican every day, but live outside its walls.

The Vatican makes all of its operating funds from the sale of postage stamps, publications, admissions to museums, and donations. It also receives an annual tax from all the Catholic diocese all over the world. It also even issues its own coins, and it has an official department for postage stamps. The Vatican sits on a hill known as Vatican Hill, and its borders are about 2 square miles. The wall that surrounds the City was build to protect the Pope in earlier times.

The Vatican City has its own flag, and even a railway station inside the walls. The Vatican maintains official diplomatic relationships with many other nations including the United States. They also maintain relationship with many Muslim countries, as well. The Vatican issues its own passports to Vatican residents. (The Holy See issues completely separated passports.) There is a summer palace where the Pope lives in the summer, and although it is not located in the Vatican, it does come under Vatican City rules and regulations. The Vatican is a World Heritage Site, and it is the only site that is made up of an entire country. Initially, Popes lived in the Lateran Palace on Caelian Hill, which is on the other side of Rome, but returned to the Vatican in 1337 after leaving Avignon.

Of course, one of the most well know symbols of the Vatican is the Sistine Chapel, with the famous ceiling painted by Michelangelo. St. Peter's Basilica is equally famous and a symbol of the Vatican. There are other symbols, too. For example, many people might not know that about half the Vatican's square area is taken up with the Vatican Gardens, which visitors can enjoy. Another important symbol of the Vatican are the many museums, that stretch over nine miles, and they house important information about the Vatican and its past. Another important symbol is St. Peter's Square, in front of the Basilica.