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Holy See
Background :
Popes in their secular role ruled portions of the Italian peninsula for more than a thousand years until the mid 19th century, when many of the Papal States were seized by the newly united Kingdom of Italy. In 1870, the pope's holdings were further circumscribed when Rome itself was annexed. 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. 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. Present concerns of the Holy See include religious freedom, international development, the environment, the Middle East, China, the decline of religion in Europe, terrorism, interreligious dialogue and reconciliation, and the application of church doctrine in an era of rapid change and globalization. About one billion people worldwide profess the Catholic faith.
Location :
Southern Europe, an enclave of Rome (Italy)
Geographic Coordinates Center :
41 54 N, 12 27 E (Latitude, Longtitude)
Geographic Coordinates Rectangle :
| West | 12.45 |
| North | 41.91 |
| East | 12.46 |
| South | 41.90 |
Map references :
Europe
Area :
| total | 0 | square km |
| land | 0 | square km |
| water | 0 | square km |
Land boundaries :
| total | 3 | km |
| Italy (it) | 3 | km |
Coastline :
0.00 km
Climate :
temperate; mild, rainy winters (September to May) with hot, dry summers (May to September)
Terrain :
urban; low hill
Elevation extremes :
| lowest point | 19 | metres |
| highest point | 75 | metres |
Land use :
| arable land | 0.00 | % |
| permanent crops | 0.00 | % |
| other | 100.00 | % |
Irrigated land :
0 square km
international agreements :
| Air Pollution (not ratified) | Environmental Modification |
| Ozone Layer Protection |
Population :
826
Indicators :
| Growth rate | 0.00 | % |
Languages :
| Italian | |
| Latin | |
| French |
Literacy :
| total population | 100.00 | % |
| male | 100.00 | % |
| female | 100.00 | % |
Country name :
| conventional long form | The Holy See |
Country Codes :
| ISO 3166 | VA |
| ISO Numeric | 336 |
| ISO3 | VAT |
| FIPS | VT |
| ccTLD | va |
| English | Holy See |
Capital :
| name | Vatican City |
| geographic coordinates | 41 54 N, 12 27 E |
| time difference | 1.00 |
| daylight saving time | 1 |
International organization participation :
| CE (observer) | IAEA |
| IOM (observer) | ITSO |
| ITU | ITUC |
| Interpol | OAS (observer) |
| OPCW | OSCE |
| Schengen Convention (de facto m) | UN (observer) |
| UNCTAD | UNHCR |
| UNWTO (observer) | UPU |
| Union Latina (observer) | WFTU |
| WIPO | WTO (observer) |
Independence :
1929-02-11
National holiday :
Coronation Day of Pope BENEDICT XVI
2005-04-19
Executive branch :
| Pope BENEDICT XVI |
Budget :
| revenues | 355 500 000 | $ |
| expenditures | 356 800 000 | $ |
Industries :
| medals | mosaics and staff uniforms |
| postage stamps | printing |
| production of coins | worldwide banking and financial activities |
Currency-code :
EUR
Currency-name :
euro
Communications :
| Telephons Main lines in use | 5 120 | |
| FM Radio broadcast stations | 3 | |
| Television broadcast stations | 1 | |
| Internet Country code (ccTLD) | va | |
| Internet Hosts | 63 |
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