Vatican
City
Vatican City, officially State of the Vatican City, is
a landlocked sovereign city-state whose territory consists of a walled enclave
within the city of Rome.
At approximately 44 hectares, it is the smallest independent state in the world.
It was
created in 1929 by the Lateran Treaty. Vatican
City is a non-hereditary, elected monarchy that is
ruled by the Bishop of Rome — the Pope. The highest state functionaries are all
clergymen of the Catholic Church. It is the sovereign territory of the Holy See
and the location of the Apostolic
Palace — the Pope's official
residence — and the Roman Curia. Thus, while the principal ecclesiastical seat
(Cathedral) of the Pope as Bishop of Rome is located outside of its walls, in Rome, Vatican
City can be said to be the governmental capital of
the Catholic Church.