Vatican City, the smallest country in the world, is the capital of the Catholic Church and home to the Pope. The city's history is complex, with the Popes once ruling a country called the Papal States, which covered much of modern-day Italy. The Popes constructed St. Peter's Basilica, the largest church in the world, and built a wall around the base of a hill known as Vatican. However, the Kingdom of Italy next door saw Rome as an ideal capital and conquered the Papal States.
The Pope hid behind the walls of Vatican and refused to acknowledge the existence of the Kingdom of Italy, while also complaining about being a prisoner of the Kingdom of Italy, which he insisted didn't exist. The Kingdom of Italy decided to wait out the Pope, assuming he would eventually give up. However, the Pope's obstinacy led to a stalemate that lasted for 1,2,3,4,5 popes and sixty years.
The situation was resolved by Benito Mussolini, the then prime minister of Italy. Mussolini struck a deal with the Pope, where Italy gave the land of Vatican to the Pope and provided apology money. In return, the Pope acknowledged Italy's existence and promised to remain neutral in politics and wars. This deal led to the birth of Vatican City, a country with its own government, laws, police, jail, bank, stamps, and license plates.
Despite these national trappings, Vatican City is not like any other country. It is unique due to the dual roles of the Pope and the King. The Pope, as the Bishop of Rome, sits on the Holy See, a special throne that is eternal. The King of Vatican City has absolute power within the country's borders, making Vatican City one of only six remaining absolute monarchies in the world. The King and the Pope are the same person at the same time, making Vatican City the world's only elected, non-hereditary absolute monarchy.
Vatican City citizens are appointed by the King, who is also the Pope. The only way to become a citizen is to work for the Pope. If a citizen quits their job for the Pope, the King will revoke their citizenship. This means that Vatican City doesn't have a real permanent population. There are only about 500 full citizens, all of whom work for The Holy See.
1. Vatican City is the capital of the Catholic Church and home to the Pope.
2. It is the world's smallest country and its entire territory can be circumnavigated on foot in just 40 minutes.
3. The history of Vatican City is complex and involves the Popes ruling over the Papal States, which covered much of modern-day Italy.
4. The Popes constructed St. Peter's Basilica, the largest church in the world, and built a wall around the base of a hill known as Vatican.
5. The Kingdom of Italy conquered the Papal States and the Pope hid behind the walls of Vatican, refusing to acknowledge the existence of the Kingdom of Italy.
6. Benito Mussolini, the then prime minister of Italy, struck a deal with the Pope to end the conflict.
7. The deal involved Italy giving the land of Vatican to the Pope and Italy giving the Pope a bunch of apology money.
8. In return, the Pope acknowledged that Italy existed and promised to remain neutral in politics and wars.
9. The deal was signed and a new country, Vatican City, was born.
10. Vatican City has its own government that makes its own laws, enforced by its own police, who put people who break them in its own jail.
11. It also has its own bank and prints its own stamps and issues its own license plates.
12. Vatican City is the only country in the world with a top-level domain: .VA.
13. Despite having national trappings, Vatican City is not really like any other country.
14. The Pope, who acts as the Bishop for all the Catholics in Rome, sits on a throne known as The Holy See.
15. The King of Vatican City has absolute, unchecked power within the country's borders, making Vatican City one of only six remaining absolute monarchies in the world.
16. The King's absolute power is why Vatican City can't join the European Union because only democracies are allowed.
17. The King of Vatican City can overrule the decisions of the legislative branch of government at any time for any reason.
18. The Pope and the King of Vatican City are two different roles, but they are occupied by the same person at the same time.
19. Vatican City is the world's only elected, non-hereditary absolute monarchy.
20. Vatican City does not have a real permanent population: there are only about 500 full citizens, all of whom work for The Holy See.
21. The only way to become a citizen of Vatican City is for the King to appoint you as one.
22. The King only appoints you a citizen if you work for the Pope, who is also the King.
23. If you quit your job for the Pope, the King will revoke your citizenship.
24. The reason the world cares about Vatican City is not because of the citizens within its walls but because of the billion members of its church outside those walls.