Vatican City (Holy See)
 

Adopted 9 Jun 1929       Map of Vatican City Hear National Anthem "Inno e Marcia Pontificale" (Hymn and Pontifical March) Adopted 1950 Hear Former Anthem "Gran Marcia Trionfale" (Great Triumphal March) (1929-1949) Fundamental Law (22 Feb 2001; in Italian) Holy See Website Lateran Treaty (11 Feb 1929) Apostolic Constitution of 1967 (1 Mar 1968) Apostolic Constitutions (18 Dec 1854; Ineffabilis Deus - The Immaculate Conception) Capital: Vatican City Currency: Euro (EUR); 1929 - 28 Feb 2002 Vatican City Lira (VAL) and Italian Lira (ITL) National Holiday: 24 Apr (2005) Coronation Day of  Pope Benedict XVI Population: 821 (2007) note: 3,000 lay workers reside outside the Vatican Budget: $252 million (2003) Expenditures: $264 million (2003) Exports: $N/A Imports: $N/A Ethnic groups: Italian, Swiss, German, others Total Armed Forces: 101 Swiss Guard Corps (2001) Gendarmes: 62  (2001) Defense is the Responsibility of Italy Merchant marine: None (2006) Religions: Roman Catholic 100% (2005) International Organizations/Treaties: AL (delegate), APM, AU (observer), BTWC, CE (observer), CTBT, ENMOD (signatory), FAO (observer), IAEA, ICAO (observer), IFAD (observer), ILO (observer), IMO (observer), IOM (observer), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LU (observer), NAM (guest), NPT, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, UN (observer), UNCLOS (observer), UNCTAD, UNEP (observer), UNESCO (observer), UNFCC, UNHCR, UNIDO (observer), UNWTO (observer), UPU, WFP (observer), WHO (observer), WIPO, WMO (observer), WTO (observer) Vatican City Index Chronology c.60                       Church of Rome founded by the Apostle Peter. 754                        Donation of the Frankish ruler Pepin creates                              a temporal Papal State for the Popes of the                              Roman Catholic Church (also called the Papal                              State or the States of the Church)                              (see Papal State under Italian states).  9 Mar 1309 - 13 Jan 1377  Popes rule from Avignon in France,                              referred to as the "Babylonian Captivity                              of the Church" by historians. 15 Feb 1798 - 23 Nov 1798  In rebellion: Roman Republic. 10 Jun 1809 - 24 Mar 1814  Papal State annexed to France 26 Feb 1831 - 26 Mar 1831  In rebellion: United Italian Provinces.  9 Feb 1849 -  4 Jul 1849  In rebellion: Roman Republic. 17 Oct 1870                Papal State annexed by Italy. 19 Oct 1870 -  7 Jun 1929  Pope's rule in seclusion in the Vatican Palace                               as "Prisoners in the Vatican."  7 Jun 1929                State of Vatican City established; independence                              from Italy.  6 Apr 1964                Becomes a permanent observer at the United Nations. Papal State (to 1870) List of Popes of the Roman Catholic Church Cardinals of the Catholic Church

Sovereigns¹ 

 7 Jun 1929 - 10 Feb 1939  Pius XI (Pope from 6 Feb 1922)     (b. 1857 - d. 1939)

10 Feb 1939 -  2 Mar 1939  Eugenio Maria Giuseppe Giovanni    (b. 1876 - d. 1958)

                             Cardinal Pacelli -Chamberlain

 2 Mar 1939 -  9 Oct 1958  Pius XII                           (s.a.)

                             (Cardinal Pacelli)

 9 Oct 1958 - 28 Oct 1958  Benedetto Cardinal Aloisi          (b. 1879 - d. 1970)

                             Masella -Chamberlain (1st time)

28 Oct 1958 -  3 Jun 1963  John XXIII                         (b. 1881 - d. 1963)

 3 Jun 1963 - 21 Jun 1963  Benedetto Cardinal Aloisi          (s.a.)

                             Masella -Chamberlain (2nd time)

21 Jun 1963 -  6 Aug 1978  Paul VI                            (b. 1897 - d. 1978)

 6 Aug 1978 - 26 Aug 1978  Jean-Marie Cardinal                (b. 1905 - d. 1979)

                             Villot -Chamberlain (1st time) 

26 Aug 1978 - 28 Sep 1978  John Paul I                        (b. 1912 - d. 1978)

28 Sep 1978 - 16 Oct 1978  Jean-Marie Cardinal                (s.a.) 

                             Villot -Chamberlain (2nd time) 

16 Oct 1978 -  2 Apr 2005  John Paul II                       (b. 1920 - d. 2005)

 2 Apr 2005 - 19 Apr 2005  Eduardo Cardinal Martínez          (b. 1927)

                             Somalo -Chamberlain

19 Apr 2005 -              Benedict XVI                       (b. 1927)
 
 

Secretaries of State

13 Oct 1914 -  9 Feb 1930  Pietro Cardinal Gasparri           (b. 1852 - d. 1934)  Non-party

 9 Feb 1930 - 10 Feb 1939  Eugenio Cardinal Pacelli           (s.a.)               Non-party

10 Mar 1939 - 22 Aug 1944  Luigi Cardinal Maglione            (b. 1877 - d. 1944)  Non-party

22 Aug 1944 - 29 Nov 1952  Vacant

29 Nov 1952 - 30 Jul 1961  Domenico Tardini                   (b. 1888 - d. 1961)  Non-party 

                            (from 15 Dec 1958, Domenico Cardinal Tardini)

                            (acting to 14 Dec 1958)

14 Aug 1961 -  2 May 1969  Amleto Giovanni Cardinal Cicognani (b. 1883 - d. 1973)  Non-party

 2 May 1969 -  9 Mar 1979  Jean Marie Cardinal Villot         (s.a.)

30 Apr 1979 -  1 Dec 1990  Agostino Casaroli                  (b. 1914 - d. 1998)  Non-party

                            (from 30 Jun 1979, Agostino Cardinal Casaroli)

                            (acting to 1 Jul 1979)

 1 Dec 1990 - 15 Sep 2006  Angelo Sodano                      (b. 1927)            Non-party

                            (from 28 Jun 1991, Angelo Cardinal Sodano)

                            (acting to 29 Jun 1991)

15 Sep 2006 -              Tarcisio Cardinal Bertone          (b. 1934)            Non-party

 

Governors of Vatican City
1931 - 1952                Camillo, Marchese Serafini         (b. 18.. - d. 1952)  Non-party
1952 - 22 Feb 2001         Vacant
22 Feb 2001 - 15 Sep 2006  Edmund Kasimir Cardinal Szoka      (b. 1927)            Non-party
15 Sep 2006 -              Giovanni Lajolo, Archbishop of     (b. 1935)            Non-party

                             Caesariana in Numidia

 

No Political Parties Exist (exclusive of influence exercised by church officers)

 

 ¹full Papal title:
(a) 7 Jun 1929 -  1 Mar 2006: "Bishop of Rome, Vicar of Jesus Christ, Successor of the Prince of the Apostles, Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church, Patriarch of the West, Primate of Italy, Archbishop and Metropolitan of the Roman Province, Sovereign of the State of the Vatican City, Servant of the Servants of God";

(b) from 1 Mar 2006: "Bishop of Rome, Vicar of Jesus Christ, Successor of the Prince of the Apostles, Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church, Primate of Italy, Archbishop and Metropolitan of the Roman Province, Sovereign of the State of the Vatican City, Servant of the Servants of God."

---