The Vatican is the world’s smallest, independent state, an autonomous region, despite its physical proximity to Rome, with a population of 500. The Vatican has its own communication network (press, radio, and television channels), stamps and transportation system; prior to the introduction of the Euro, it even had its own currency, minted within the confines of the tiny state. The governing authority of the state is the Pope, the highest official in the Catholic Church. As this is being written, only a few months have passed since the death of John Paul II and the nomination of his successor, Benedict XVI. The entire world closely followed the Pope’s funeral and the nomination process that reaches its conclusion with the traditional column of white smoke. Regardless of religious beliefs, people around the world focused their attention on the Vatican for several days, gaining insight into the Catholic Church’s inner workings and witnessing a record-breaking media event.
The modern Vatican City State was created on February 11, 1929 when Dictator Benito Mussolini and Pope Pius XII signed the Letrán Pact. The pact recognised the independence and sovereignty of the Holy See, thus ending a dispute with Italy that dated back to the Catholic Church’s loss of the Papal States in 1870. The pact also assigned the Pope as the Vatican’s head of state, a position that was to be elected by a conclave of cardinals. The Pope is in charge of the legislative, executive and judicial functions, whereas the Roman Curia is responsible for the state’s administration as delegated by the Pope.
Since every Pope is considered the direct successor of Saint Peter, thus receiving his authority directly from Jesus Christ, he is granted complete power within the Catholic Church. During the First Vatican Council in 1870, more than 400 bishops approved the dogma of the Supreme Pontiff’s Infallibility, which means that the Pope is infallible in questions of faith and morality and that his decisions cannot be disputed.
The current Pope, Benedict XVI (whose real name is Joseph Ratzinger) is the 265th pontiff. The custom of pontiffs adopting a name other than their own started in the year 533 when John II was chosen as the Pope. The real name of this Roman priest was Mercurio and it goes without saying that the Catholic Church couldn’t have its highest representative be named after a pagan god.
The Vatican is the main destination for Christian and Catholic pilgrims as well as a popular tourist attraction thanks to its impressive art collection. Saint Peter’s Square is the central nerve of the Vatican, the place where most visitors gather before heading to other sites. It is also the entrance to the impressive Saint Peter's Basilica, the largest and most elaborate that exists anywhere in the world.
Flanking the sides of the square are the Vatican Museums, which house a spectacular collection of art pieces that the Vatican either bought or received as donations. Although there are many different halls and pieces of extraordinary value, the main attraction is doubtlessly the Sistine Chapel, which displays Michelangelo’s unparalleled mastery and genius as a painter. Visiting all of the museums in their entirety can easily take up a whole day; therefore, it is a good idea to decide beforehand which of the exhibits are of greatest interest to you.
The Via della Conciliazione leads from Saint Peter’s Square to the Castel Sant'Angelo. The fortress was originally conceived as a mausoleum but has since changed in function. Nowadays the famous landmark next to the Tiber is one of the city's museums.
No description of the Vatican is complete without mentioning another one of its symbols, one which is rather unusual in that it is neither a monument nor museum. This symbol is the Swiss Guard, an exclusive security force created solely for the protection of the Pope. The guards draw a lot of attention, thanks to both their eye-catching uniform and strategic and highly visible positions. It is tempting to pose with the guard and take what is probably the most typical tourist photo. And there is no reason to be shy about it since the guards are more than willing and accustomed to this request, fully aware that completing a tourist’s Vatican photo album is now part of their job description.
