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This tiny size and large tourist appeal are attributable to the fact that it is a small exclave within the city of Rome, Italy's capital. The Vatican is the center of the Roman Catholic Church and is currently the world's only Christian theocracy.&#91;3&#93; It's also one of six absolute monarchies and the only elected one. Latin is the official language. 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margin: 0 0 0.5em 0.5em; text-align:left; border: 1px solid #0a150c; width:175px;"> <tbody><tr> <td style="font-size: 95%; text-align:center; color:white; background-color:#0a150c"><b>Christ died for<br /> our articles about</b><br /><a href="/wiki/Christianity" title="Christianity"><font size="5" color="white"><b>Christianity</b></font></a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color:#f5eaf3;" align="center"><a href="/wiki/Category:Christianity" title="Category:Christianity"><img alt="Icon christianity.svg" src="/w/images/thumb/3/3c/Icon_christianity.svg/100px-Icon_christianity.svg.png" decoding="async" width="100" height="100" srcset="/w/images/thumb/3/3c/Icon_christianity.svg/150px-Icon_christianity.svg.png 1.5x, /w/images/thumb/3/3c/Icon_christianity.svg/200px-Icon_christianity.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="200" data-file-height="200" /></a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="font-size: 95%; color:white; background-color:#0a150c; text-align:center;"><b>Schismatics</b> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="font-size: 95%; background-color:#f5eaf3;"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Roman_Catholic_Church" title="Roman Catholic Church">Western (Latin) Catholicism</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Eastern_Orthodox_Church" title="Eastern Orthodox Church">Eastern (Greek) Orthodoxy</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Protestantism" class="mw-redirect" title="Protestantism">Protestantism</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Restorationism" title="Restorationism">Restorationism</a></li></ul> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="font-size: 95%; color:white; background-color:#0a150c; text-align:center;"><b>Devil's in the details</b> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="font-size: 95%; background-color:#f5eaf3;"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Great_Chain_of_Being" title="Great Chain of Being">Great Chain of Being</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Sola_fide" title="Sola fide">Sola fide</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/The_Drama_of_the_Lost_Disciples" title="The Drama of the Lost Disciples">The Drama of the Lost Disciples</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Indulgence" title="Indulgence">Indulgence</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Seven_Spirits_of_God" title="Seven Spirits of God">Seven Spirits of God</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Robert_Jeffress" title="Robert Jeffress">Robert Jeffress</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Giles_Fraser" title="Giles Fraser">Giles Fraser</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Crisis_pregnancy_center" title="Crisis pregnancy center">Crisis pregnancy center</a></li></ul> <div class="vte plainlinks" style="font-size:smaller; text-align:center;"><a href="/wiki/Template:Christianity" title="Template:Christianity">v</a> - <a href="/wiki/Template_talk:Christianity" title="Template talk:Christianity">t</a> - <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://rationalwiki.org/w/index.php?title=Template:Christianity&action=edit">e</a></div> </td></tr></tbody></table> <table style="margin: auto; border-collapse:collapse; border-style:none; background-color:transparent;" class="cquote"> <tbody><tr> <td><div style="padding:4px 50px;position:relative;"><span style="position:absolute;left:10px;top:-6px;z-index:1;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-weight:bold;color:#B2B7F2;font-size:36px">“</span><span style="position:absolute;right:10px;bottom:-20px;z-index:1;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-weight:bold;color:#B2B7F2;font-size:36px">”</span>The Vatican is the last real absolute <a href="/wiki/Theocracy" title="Theocracy">theocracy</a> in the world and it is very difficult to know why we [the <a href="/wiki/UK" class="mw-redirect" title="UK">UK</a>] are, as a government, consulting them on internal policy.</div> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="padding:4px 10px 8px;font-size:smaller;line-height:1.6em;text-align:right;"><cite style="font-style:normal;position:relative;z-index:2">—Terry Sanderson, president of the UK <a href="/wiki/National_Secular_Society" title="National Secular Society">National Secular Society</a><sup id="cite_ref-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-1">[1]</a></sup></cite> </td></tr></tbody></table> <p>The <b>Vatican</b>, officially called the <b>Vatican City State</b> (Italian: <i>Stato della Città del Vaticano</i>, Latin: <i>Status Civitatis Vaticanae</i>), is the world's smallest sovereign <a href="/wiki/State" title="State">state</a> both in territory and in population, measuring 1.05 kilometers (0.6 mi) long and 0.85 kilometers (0.5 mi) wide, and holding a permanent population of roughly 1,000 people.<sup id="cite_ref-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-2">[2]</a></sup> Its tourist population tends to be much higher. This tiny size and large tourist appeal are attributable to the fact that it is a small exclave within the city of Rome, <a href="/wiki/Italy" title="Italy">Italy</a>'s capital. The Vatican is the center of the <a href="/wiki/Roman_Catholic_Church" title="Roman Catholic Church">Roman Catholic Church</a> and is currently the world's only <a href="/wiki/Christian" class="mw-redirect" title="Christian">Christian</a> <a href="/wiki/Theocracy" title="Theocracy">theocracy</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-3">[3]</a></sup> It's also one of six <a href="/wiki/Monarchy" title="Monarchy"> absolute monarchies</a> and the only elected one. <a href="/wiki/Latin" title="Latin">Latin</a> is the official <a href="/wiki/Language" title="Language">language</a>. <i>Nota bene</i>. </p><p>While "the Vatican" refers to the <a href="/wiki/Secular" title="Secular">secular</a> holdings of the Pope, the Pope's church jurisdiction is known as the <b>Holy See</b> (Latin: <i>Sancta Sedes</i>), or the <b>See of Rome</b>. These terms shouldn't be used interchangeably, despite the Pope heading up both entities, because the Holy See is the name for the entire central administration of the Catholic Church and is considered (<a href="/wiki/Conspiracy_theory" title="Conspiracy theory">by those in the know</a>) to be unconstrained by geography.<sup id="cite_ref-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-4">[4]</a></sup> While the Vatican City is a country, the Holy See conducts foreign relations on its behalf. The Holy See is also an observer at the <a href="/wiki/United_Nations" title="United Nations">United Nations</a>,<sup id="cite_ref-5" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-5">[5]</a></sup> where it tends to use its power to obstruct agendas related to global health (meaning "stuff related to <a href="/wiki/Abortion" title="Abortion">abortion</a>").<sup id="cite_ref-6" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-6">[6]</a></sup> </p><p>During and after the <a href="/wiki/Middle_Ages" title="Middle Ages">Middle Ages</a>, the Pope was a powerful sovereign ruler of a secular domain, directly controlling a region of central Italy called the <b>Papal States</b>.<sup id="cite_ref-7" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-7">[7]</a></sup> This period saw the papacy hold massive amounts of wealth (extracted via church taxes from the various realms of western <a href="/wiki/Europe" title="Europe">Europe</a>), which grandiose Bishops of Rome spent to fund extravagant architectural and artistic ventures around and about their palaces in the Vatican. The Church's heyday eventually ended, though, and after <a href="/wiki/Napoleon_Bonaparte" title="Napoleon Bonaparte"> Napoleon</a>'s efforts to simplify the political map, Italian <a href="/wiki/Nationalism" title="Nationalism">nationalism</a> dreamed up the demand for a united Italian peninsula. To this end, in 1870, the Kingdom of Italy invaded the Papal States and annexed the city of Rome. While Italy didn't do anything to interfere with the Pope's affairs inside the Vatican compound, the Pope and his successors refused to accept the destruction of their so-called "temporal power" and used every means at their disposal to undermine the Italian state.<sup id="cite_ref-8" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-8">[8]</a></sup> They described themselves as "prisoners in the Vatican".<sup id="cite_ref-9" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-9">[9]</a></sup> This standoff, called the "Roman Question", was only resolved in 1929 when the <a href="/wiki/Fascist" class="mw-redirect" title="Fascist">fascist</a> dictator <a href="/wiki/Benito_Mussolini" title="Benito Mussolini">Benito Mussolini</a> negotiated the Lateran Treaty, granting full independence to the Vatican City and giving the Church certain influence in Italy's government.<sup id="cite_ref-10" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-10">[10]</a></sup> </p><p>The Vatican City attracts many <a href="/wiki/Pilgrimage" title="Pilgrimage"><s>pilgrims</s></a> tourists due to its rich cultural, historical, and artistic heritage. Notable attractions include religious and cultural sites such as St. Peter's Basilica, the Sistine Chapel, and the Vatican Museums. </p> <div id="toc" class="toc" role="navigation" aria-labelledby="mw-toc-heading"><input type="checkbox" role="button" id="toctogglecheckbox" class="toctogglecheckbox" style="display:none" /><div class="toctitle" lang="en" dir="ltr"><h2 id="mw-toc-heading">Contents</h2><span class="toctogglespan"><label class="toctogglelabel" for="toctogglecheckbox"></label></span></div> <ul> <li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-1"><a href="#Government_and_politics"><span class="tocnumber">1</span> <span class="toctext">Government and politics</span></a> <ul> <li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-2"><a href="#Holy_See"><span class="tocnumber">1.1</span> <span class="toctext">Holy See</span></a> <ul> <li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-3"><a href="#Structure"><span class="tocnumber">1.1.1</span> <span class="toctext">Structure</span></a></li> <li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-4"><a href="#International_standing"><span class="tocnumber">1.1.2</span> <span class="toctext">International standing</span></a></li> <li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-5"><a href="#Swiss_Guard"><span class="tocnumber">1.1.3</span> <span class="toctext">Swiss Guard</span></a></li> <li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-6"><a href="#Homosexual_and_other_.27lobbies.27"><span class="tocnumber">1.1.4</span> <span class="toctext">Homosexual and other 'lobbies'</span></a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-7"><a href="#Vatican_City"><span class="tocnumber">1.2</span> <span class="toctext">Vatican City</span></a> <ul> <li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-8"><a href="#Government"><span class="tocnumber">1.2.1</span> <span class="toctext">Government</span></a></li> <li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-9"><a href="#People"><span class="tocnumber">1.2.2</span> <span class="toctext">People</span></a></li> <li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-10"><a href="#International_relations"><span class="tocnumber">1.2.3</span> <span class="toctext">International relations</span></a></li> <li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-11"><a href="#Crime"><span class="tocnumber">1.2.4</span> <span class="toctext">Crime</span></a></li> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-12"><a href="#Economy"><span class="tocnumber">2</span> <span class="toctext">Economy</span></a> <ul> <li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-13"><a href="#The_Vatican_Bank"><span class="tocnumber">2.1</span> <span class="toctext">The Vatican Bank</span></a></li> <li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-14"><a href="#Assets_and_revenue"><span class="tocnumber">2.2</span> <span class="toctext">Assets and revenue</span></a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-15"><a href="#Landmarks_and_holy_sites"><span class="tocnumber">3</span> <span class="toctext">Landmarks and holy sites</span></a> <ul> <li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-16"><a href="#St._Peter.27s_Basilica"><span class="tocnumber">3.1</span> <span class="toctext">St. Peter's Basilica</span></a> <ul> <li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-17"><a href="#Chair_of_St._Peter"><span class="tocnumber">3.1.1</span> <span class="toctext">Chair of St. Peter</span></a></li> <li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-18"><a href="#Vatican_Necropolis"><span class="tocnumber">3.1.2</span> <span class="toctext">Vatican Necropolis</span></a></li> <li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-19"><a href="#Vatican_Grottoes"><span class="tocnumber">3.1.3</span> <span class="toctext">Vatican Grottoes</span></a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-20"><a href="#St._Peter.27s_Square"><span class="tocnumber">3.2</span> <span class="toctext">St. Peter's Square</span></a></li> <li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-21"><a href="#Apostolic_Palace"><span class="tocnumber">3.3</span> <span class="toctext">Apostolic Palace</span></a> <ul> <li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-22"><a href="#Papal_apartments"><span class="tocnumber">3.3.1</span> <span class="toctext">Papal apartments</span></a></li> <li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-23"><a href="#Borgia_rooms"><span class="tocnumber">3.3.2</span> <span class="toctext">Borgia rooms</span></a></li> <li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-24"><a href="#Raphael_rooms"><span class="tocnumber">3.3.3</span> <span class="toctext">Raphael rooms</span></a></li> <li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-25"><a href="#The_porn_bathroom"><span class="tocnumber">3.3.4</span> <span class="toctext">The porn bathroom</span></a></li> <li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-26"><a href="#Sistine_Chapel"><span class="tocnumber">3.3.5</span> <span class="toctext">Sistine Chapel</span></a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-27"><a href="#Vatican_Museums"><span class="tocnumber">3.4</span> <span class="toctext">Vatican Museums</span></a></li> <li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-28"><a href="#Vatican_Library"><span class="tocnumber">3.5</span> <span class="toctext">Vatican Library</span></a> <ul> <li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-29"><a href="#The_Secret_Archives_that_weren.27t"><span class="tocnumber">3.5.1</span> <span class="toctext">The Secret Archives that weren't</span></a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-30"><a href="#Vatican_Gardens"><span class="tocnumber">3.6</span> <span class="toctext">Vatican Gardens</span></a></li> <li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-31"><a href="#Domus_Sanctae_Marthae"><span class="tocnumber">3.7</span> <span class="toctext">Domus Sanctae Marthae</span></a></li> <li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-32"><a href="#Vatican_walls"><span class="tocnumber">3.8</span> <span class="toctext">Vatican walls</span></a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-33"><a href="#Notable_extraterritorial_properties"><span class="tocnumber">4</span> <span class="toctext">Notable extraterritorial properties</span></a> <ul> <li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-34"><a href="#Archbasilica_of_Saint_John_Lateran"><span class="tocnumber">4.1</span> <span class="toctext">Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran</span></a> <ul> <li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-35"><a href="#Scala_Sancta"><span class="tocnumber">4.1.1</span> <span class="toctext">Scala Sancta</span></a></li> <li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-36"><a href="#Sancta_Sanctorum"><span class="tocnumber">4.1.2</span> <span class="toctext">Sancta Sanctorum</span></a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-37"><a href="#Palace_of_Castel_Gandolfo"><span class="tocnumber">4.2</span> <span class="toctext">Palace of Castel Gandolfo</span></a></li> <li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-38"><a href="#Basilica_of_the_Holy_House"><span class="tocnumber">4.3</span> <span class="toctext">Basilica of the Holy House</span></a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-39"><a href="#Map"><span class="tocnumber">5</span> <span class="toctext">Map</span></a></li> <li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-40"><a href="#See_also"><span class="tocnumber">6</span> <span class="toctext">See also</span></a></li> <li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-41"><a href="#External_links"><span class="tocnumber">7</span> <span class="toctext">External links</span></a> <ul> <li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-42"><a href="#Virtual_tours"><span class="tocnumber">7.1</span> <span class="toctext">Virtual tours</span></a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-43"><a href="#References"><span class="tocnumber">8</span> <span class="toctext">References</span></a></li> </ul> </div> <h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Government_and_politics">Government and politics</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Vatican_City&action=edit&section=1" title="Edit section: Government and politics">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h2> <div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width:277px;"><a href="/wiki/File:Lazio_Roma_SGiovanni2_tango7174.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9d/Lazio_Roma_SGiovanni2_tango7174.jpg/330px-Lazio_Roma_SGiovanni2_tango7174.jpg" decoding="async" width="275" height="229" class="thumbimage" srcset="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9d/Lazio_Roma_SGiovanni2_tango7174.jpg/500px-Lazio_Roma_SGiovanni2_tango7174.jpg 1.5x, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9d/Lazio_Roma_SGiovanni2_tango7174.jpg/550px-Lazio_Roma_SGiovanni2_tango7174.jpg 2x" data-file-width="800" data-file-height="667" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a href="/wiki/File:Lazio_Roma_SGiovanni2_tango7174.jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"></a></div>The papal throne in the Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran.</div></div></div> <h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Holy_See">Holy See</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Vatican_City&action=edit&section=2" title="Edit section: Holy See">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h3> <h4><span class="mw-headline" id="Structure">Structure</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Vatican_City&action=edit&section=3" title="Edit section: Structure">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h4> <p>The Holy See is the government of the Catholic Church, and as such, its authority technically extends to wherever there are Catholics. "Holy See" comes from the Latin term <i>Sancta Sedes</i>, which means "Holy Chair."<sup id="cite_ref-11" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-11">[11]</a></sup> Technically, the Holy See is just the Pope, as the Pope wields absolute authority over the Church. In practice, though, that power must be wielded through the Roman Curia, a complex array of bureaus that executes the will of the Holy Father. </p><p>Notable bureaus of the Curia include: </p> <ul><li>The Secretariat of State, headed by a Cardinal, is responsible for political and diplomatic affairs.<sup id="cite_ref-12" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-12">[12]</a></sup></li> <li>The Secretariat for the Economy holds authority over the Holy See's finances and revenues.<sup id="cite_ref-13" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-13">[13]</a></sup></li> <li>The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith promulgates and intellectually defends Catholic doctrine.<sup id="cite_ref-14" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-14">[14]</a></sup> It is the successor to the Roman Inquisition. In centuries past, it was aggressive in imposing theological purity on the members of the Church, ordering dissidents into silence and reviewing all church publications for potential <a href="/wiki/Censorship" title="Censorship">censorship</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-15" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-15">[15]</a></sup></li> <li>The Congregation for the Oriental Churches manages relations with the eastern Christian churches like the <a href="/wiki/Eastern_Orthodox" class="mw-redirect" title="Eastern Orthodox">Eastern Orthodox</a> branches and the Maronites of <a href="/wiki/Lebanon" title="Lebanon">Lebanon</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-16" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-16">[16]</a></sup></li> <li>The Congregation for the Causes of Saints oversees the process of canonizing people into sainthood.<sup id="cite_ref-17" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-17">[17]</a></sup></li> <li>The Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples manages the Church's missionary efforts and helps organize local clergy.<sup id="cite_ref-18" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-18">[18]</a></sup> It also gets to select bishop candidates, making it even more powerful.</li> <li>The Congregation for the Clergy is responsible for the formation, ministry, and life of priests and deacons.<sup id="cite_ref-19" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-19">[19]</a></sup></li> <li>The Congregation for Catholic Education oversees ecclesiastical universities and schools.<sup id="cite_ref-20" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-20">[20]</a></sup></li> <li>The Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Penitentiary can absolve excommunications and issue indulgences.<sup id="cite_ref-21" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-21">[21]</a></sup></li></ul> <h4><span class="mw-headline" id="International_standing">International standing</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Vatican_City&action=edit&section=4" title="Edit section: International standing">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h4> <p>The Holy See isn't a state by any standards, but it is recognized by almost the entire world as having international standing and being subject to international laws. It is either a permanent observer state in the United Nations, the Organization of American States, the Arab League, and the African Union.<sup id="cite_ref-inths_22-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-inths-22">[22]</a></sup> It also participated in the discussions that formed the International Criminal Court and signed on to the Geneva Conventions. </p><p>While the Holy See has many international relations, most of its embassies are located in the city of Rome due to limited space. The <a href="/wiki/United_States" title="United States">United States</a> embassy to the Holy See, for instance, is located in the same building as its embassy to Italy.<sup id="cite_ref-23" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-23">[23]</a></sup> Perhaps its most fraught relationship is with the People's Republic of <a href="/wiki/China" title="China">China</a>, as the Holy See recognizes <a href="/wiki/Taiwan" title="Taiwan">Taiwan</a> as China's legitimate government and thus has no official relationship with the People's Republic.<sup id="cite_ref-24" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-24">[24]</a></sup> That being said, there are still diplomatic arrangements to be struck between them since the Holy See is concerned about the fate of China's underground Catholic population. </p> <h4><span class="mw-headline" id="Swiss_Guard">Swiss Guard</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Vatican_City&action=edit&section=5" title="Edit section: Swiss Guard">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h4> <div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width:277px;"><a href="/wiki/File:Swiss_guard_swearing_in.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/86/Swiss_guard_swearing_in.jpg/275px-Swiss_guard_swearing_in.jpg" decoding="async" width="275" height="183" class="thumbimage" srcset="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/86/Swiss_guard_swearing_in.jpg/413px-Swiss_guard_swearing_in.jpg 1.5x, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/86/Swiss_guard_swearing_in.jpg/550px-Swiss_guard_swearing_in.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1800" data-file-height="1200" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a href="/wiki/File:Swiss_guard_swearing_in.jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"></a></div>Swiss Guard oath ceremony.</div></div></div> <p>Administered by the Holy See, the Pontifical Swiss Guard acts as the ceremonial and actual bodyguards of the Pope. They also protect the Vatican City, acting as its unofficial military force. Recruits must be unmarried Roman Catholic men with citizenship in <a href="/wiki/Switzerland" title="Switzerland">Switzerland</a>, between 19 and 30 years of age, and at least 5 feet 8 inches tall.<sup id="cite_ref-sguard_25-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-sguard-25">[25]</a></sup> They also need a professional diploma or high school degree and complete basic training in the Swiss military. They wear distinctive <a href="/wiki/Renaissance" title="Renaissance">Renaissance</a>-inspired uniforms during ceremonies, but make no mistake, they're also trained and armed with modern weapons and counter-<a href="/wiki/Terrorism" title="Terrorism">terrorism</a> tactics.<sup id="cite_ref-sguard_25-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-sguard-25">[25]</a></sup> They got a lot more serious after the attempted assassination of <a href="/wiki/John_Paul_II" title="John Paul II">John Paul II</a>. </p><p>The Swiss Guard dates back to 1506 when Swiss <a href="/wiki/Mercenary" title="Mercenary">mercenaries</a> were renowned as the best in Europe. They ensured their eternal reputation as self-sacrificing and tough soldiers in 1527, when 189 Swiss Guards stood against thousands of rogue mercenaries attacking Rome, being horribly slaughtered but saving the life of Pope Clement VII.<sup id="cite_ref-26" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-26">[26]</a></sup> </p> <h4><span id="Homosexual_and_other_'lobbies'"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Homosexual_and_other_.27lobbies.27">Homosexual and other 'lobbies'</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Vatican_City&action=edit&section=6" title="Edit section: Homosexual and other 'lobbies'">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h4> <table style="margin: auto; border-collapse:collapse; border-style:none; background-color:transparent;" class="cquote"> <tbody><tr> <td><div style="padding:4px 50px;position:relative;"><span style="position:absolute;left:10px;top:-6px;z-index:1;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-weight:bold;color:#B2B7F2;font-size:36px">“</span><span style="position:absolute;right:10px;bottom:-20px;z-index:1;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-weight:bold;color:#B2B7F2;font-size:36px">”</span>The problem is lobbying for this [homosexual] orientation, or lobbies of greed, political lobbies, Masonic lobbies, so many lobbies. This is the most serious problem for me.</div> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="padding:4px 10px 8px;font-size:smaller;line-height:1.6em;text-align:right;"><cite style="font-style:normal;position:relative;z-index:2">— (<a href="/wiki/Pope_Francis" title="Pope Francis">Pope Francis</a> speaking in 2013)<sup id="cite_ref-27" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-27">[27]</a></sup></cite> </td></tr></tbody></table> <p>A <a href="/wiki/Freemason" title="Freemason">Masonic</a> lobby or a <a href="/wiki/Homosexual" class="mw-redirect" title="Homosexual">gay</a> lobby is more accurately termed a secret society as that is how <a href="/wiki/Italian" class="mw-redirect" title="Italian">Italians</a> use the word lobby.<sup id="cite_ref-28" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-28">[28]</a></sup> In Italy, the gay lobby means an informal network of gays and others. They help each other get promotions and, for example, threaten to expose the secrets of any member who steps out of line. The lobby may not promote gay interests and may even prefer the status quo with its need for secrecy. Not all members of the gay lobby are even gay. Some have corrupt links with gays without being gay themselves.<sup id="cite_ref-29" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-29">[29]</a></sup> </p> <h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Vatican_City">Vatican City</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Vatican_City&action=edit&section=7" title="Edit section: Vatican City">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h3> <div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width:252px;"><a href="/wiki/File:Palace_of_the_Governorate._Vatican_City_State..jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/90/Palace_of_the_Governorate._Vatican_City_State..jpg/250px-Palace_of_the_Governorate._Vatican_City_State..jpg" decoding="async" width="250" height="194" class="thumbimage" srcset="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/90/Palace_of_the_Governorate._Vatican_City_State..jpg/375px-Palace_of_the_Governorate._Vatican_City_State..jpg 1.5x, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/90/Palace_of_the_Governorate._Vatican_City_State..jpg/500px-Palace_of_the_Governorate._Vatican_City_State..jpg 2x" data-file-width="5591" data-file-height="4336" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a href="/wiki/File:Palace_of_the_Governorate._Vatican_City_State..jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"></a></div>Palace of the Governate, seat of the Pontifical Commission.</div></div></div> <h4><span class="mw-headline" id="Government">Government</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Vatican_City&action=edit&section=8" title="Edit section: Government">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h4> <p>Along with his responsibilities as the Holy See, the Pope is also the head of state and government for the Vatican City. In practice, though, he delegates almost all of these responsibilities to the Pontifical Commission for the Vatican State. This council, composed of cardinals the Pope appoints, votes on and passes laws concerning the Vatican City.<sup id="cite_ref-vatgov_30-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-vatgov-30">[30]</a></sup> The Pope or the Pope's Secretary of State must approve these laws. </p><p>The Vatican City also has a president who is the council's leader and holds most of the day-to-day responsibilities of managing the Vatican City.<sup id="cite_ref-vatgov_30-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-vatgov-30">[30]</a></sup> His administration, called the Governate, consists of various bureaus and offices appointed by the Pope. The Governate runs a police force, which guards the Vatican borders and does other police tasks.<sup id="cite_ref-31" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-31">[31]</a></sup> </p><p>Under his official title as <i>Sovereign of the State of the Vatican City,</i> the Pope is considered Europe's last absolute monarch. His powers within the Vatican City are basically unlimited but, in practice, are constrained by church traditions and the tiny population of the Vatican City. It's not so great to be 'da king. </p> <h4><span class="mw-headline" id="People">People</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Vatican_City&action=edit&section=9" title="Edit section: People">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h4> <div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width:267px;"><a href="/wiki/File:Francis_Inauguration_fc04.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2b/Francis_Inauguration_fc04.jpg/330px-Francis_Inauguration_fc04.jpg" decoding="async" width="265" height="199" class="thumbimage" srcset="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2b/Francis_Inauguration_fc04.jpg/500px-Francis_Inauguration_fc04.jpg 1.5x, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2b/Francis_Inauguration_fc04.jpg/960px-Francis_Inauguration_fc04.jpg 2x" data-file-width="4000" data-file-height="3000" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a href="/wiki/File:Francis_Inauguration_fc04.jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"></a></div>Procession during the inauguration of Pope Francis.</div></div></div> <p>The Vatican has the world's smallest population, making for some interesting demographic statistics. For instance, did you know that Vatican City has the world's highest wine consumption per capita, averaging 74 liters per year?<sup id="cite_ref-32" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-32">[32]</a></sup> Disappointingly, this isn't for the potentially amusing reason that the clergy is getting smashed every night. It's actually because of ceremonial communion wine drinking. The Vatican City also has a citizen gender ratio that is very skewed in favor of men. If one cares to calculate the "Popes per km<sup>2</sup>" statistic, you come up with the amusing total of "technically greater than two" since the Vatican City is less than half a square kilometer in area.<sup id="cite_ref-33" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-33">[33]</a></sup> <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia" title="Wikipedia">Wikipedia</a> also notes that the Vatican has a fairly well-developed transportation infrastructure, but that said infrastructure is almost entirely walkways and hallways.<sup id="cite_ref-34" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-34">[34]</a></sup> </p><p>The Vatican has no birthright citizenship whatsoever, with citizenship only being conferred by appointment to a job within the city.<sup id="cite_ref-35" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-35">[35]</a></sup> Citizenship is also extended to immediate family members of these people. Most Vatican citizens tend to be either clergy or Swiss Guards. Journalist Magdalena Wolińska-Riedi married a Swiss Guard and lived with him as a fellow citizen in the city, gaining the very unique nationality of "Polish-Vatican".<sup id="cite_ref-36" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-36">[36]</a></sup> She is one of the very few women to hold Vatican citizenship. </p><p>These citizenship standards make Vatican City very multicultural, being a city-state run by a guy from <a href="/wiki/Argentina" title="Argentina">Argentina</a> that holds people from all over Europe and the world, especially from Switzerland.<sup id="cite_ref-37" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-37">[37]</a></sup> Vatican citizens can be issued the very rare Vatican passport.<sup id="cite_ref-38" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-38">[38]</a></sup> </p> <h4><span class="mw-headline" id="International_relations">International relations</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Vatican_City&action=edit&section=10" title="Edit section: International relations">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h4> <p>For the most part, Vatican City has no international relations. Foreign policy is conducted through the Holy See, meaning that Vatican City doesn't do much internationally. The Vatican doesn't even host embassies, as the embassies of the Holy See are placed in Rome. </p><p>The Vatican City is determinedly neutral, with its defense being provided for by the Holy See's Swiss Guard and presumably by the armed forces of Italy. The Vatican has listed its entirety in the International Register of Cultural Property under Special Protection, meaning that launching an armed attack anywhere in the Vatican City would be a <a href="/wiki/War_crime" class="mw-redirect" title="War crime">war crime</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-39" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-39">[39]</a></sup> As with all war crimes, though, how much that matters depends on the strength of the belligerent. </p> <div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width:267px;"><a href="/wiki/File:Crowds_in_St._Peter%27s_Square.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/db/Crowds_in_St._Peter%27s_Square.jpg/265px-Crowds_in_St._Peter%27s_Square.jpg" decoding="async" width="265" height="199" class="thumbimage" srcset="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/db/Crowds_in_St._Peter%27s_Square.jpg/398px-Crowds_in_St._Peter%27s_Square.jpg 1.5x, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/db/Crowds_in_St._Peter%27s_Square.jpg/530px-Crowds_in_St._Peter%27s_Square.jpg 2x" data-file-width="2592" data-file-height="1944" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a href="/wiki/File:Crowds_in_St._Peter%27s_Square.jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"></a></div>St. Peter's Square, like Disneyland for pickpockets.</div></div></div> <p>They do hold membership in a handful of international organizations by necessity. These include the European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations (gotta keep the phones up), the Eutelsat (gotta keep the <a href="/wiki/Internet" title="Internet">internet</a> on), and the Universal Postal Union (gotta keep the mail coming).<sup id="cite_ref-40" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-40">[40]</a></sup> The Vatican is also a member of Interpol.<sup id="cite_ref-41" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-41">[41]</a></sup> </p> <h4><span class="mw-headline" id="Crime">Crime</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Vatican_City&action=edit&section=11" title="Edit section: Crime">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h4> <p>Due to the number of tourists visiting the Vatican and its small permanent population of 800 or so, its crime rate has the bizarre attribute of being 133% of its population.<sup id="cite_ref-42" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-42">[42]</a></sup> The crime there tends to be minor tourist-targeting shit like pickpocketing, purse-snatching, or even shoplifting from the Vatican's stores<sup id="cite_ref-43" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-43">[43]</a></sup> (that'll land you in <a href="/wiki/Hell" title="Hell">Hell</a>). The density of tourists means that the Vatican has sky-high crime rates compared to neighboring Italy and the rest of Europe. </p><p>Criminal punishment is awkward for the Vatican City. It doesn't have jury trials since there's no fair way to do that in a country with such a tiny population.<sup id="cite_ref-crimpro_44-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-crimpro-44">[44]</a></sup> Criminals get sentences handed down by judges after a trial, usually based on Italian criminal codes (when those aren't too <a href="/wiki/Liberal" class="mw-redirect" title="Liberal">liberal</a>). The accused have the right to a public defender.<sup id="cite_ref-crimpro_44-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-crimpro-44">[44]</a></sup> The Vatican has a small jail, but it's mainly used as storage space and only holds people in pre-trial detention.<sup id="cite_ref-crimpro_44-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-crimpro-44">[44]</a></sup> Instead, anyone sentenced to prison is sent to an Italian prison, where their living costs are paid for by the Vatican as a courtesy.<sup id="cite_ref-crimpro_44-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-crimpro-44">[44]</a></sup> </p> <h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Economy">Economy</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Vatican_City&action=edit&section=12" title="Edit section: Economy">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h2> <div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width:302px;"><a href="/wiki/File:Istituto_per_le_Opere_di_Religione_logo.svg" class="image"><img alt="" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/ff/Istituto_per_le_Opere_di_Religione_logo.svg/330px-Istituto_per_le_Opere_di_Religione_logo.svg.png" decoding="async" width="300" height="109" class="thumbimage" srcset="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/ff/Istituto_per_le_Opere_di_Religione_logo.svg/500px-Istituto_per_le_Opere_di_Religione_logo.svg.png 1.5x, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/ff/Istituto_per_le_Opere_di_Religione_logo.svg/960px-Istituto_per_le_Opere_di_Religione_logo.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="1024" data-file-height="372" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a href="/wiki/File:Istituto_per_le_Opere_di_Religione_logo.svg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"></a></div>Logo of the Vatican <s>mafia</s> Bank.</div></div></div> <h3><span class="mw-headline" id="The_Vatican_Bank">The Vatican Bank</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Vatican_City&action=edit&section=13" title="Edit section: The Vatican Bank">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h3> <p>The Vatican is shockingly non-transparent when it comes to its finances. Its assets are held under the Institute for the Works of Religion title, commonly known as the "Vatican Bank", which was established by a papal decree of Pope Pius XII in June 1942.<sup id="cite_ref-45" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-45">[45]</a></sup> The institution aims to funnel the Vatican's cash into the wider Church's religious and charitable efforts. </p><p>Unfortunately, since its inception, the Vatican Bank has been a hotbed of corruption, with numerous resignations, scandals, and even investigations launched by the Italian government.<sup id="cite_ref-cnnmo_46-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-cnnmo-46">[46]</a></sup> Perhaps the most significant beneficiaries are ultrarich Italian politicians and business people who like to use the Vatican Bank as a <a href="/wiki/Tax" title="Tax">tax</a> evasion scheme for stashing cash. However, only Vatican residents are supposed to have accounts.<sup id="cite_ref-47" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-47">[47]</a></sup> Perhaps only to be expected from an institution run by politically-connected but otherwise unqualified clergy. The worst Vatican scandal came in the 1980s when mafia kingpin Michele Sindona used the Vatican Bank to launder money and dodge taxes.<sup id="cite_ref-48" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-48">[48]</a></sup> When Sindona went down, so did $56 million from the Vatican. The bank was also involved in the collapse of Franklin National Bank in 1974 and then lost hundreds of millions of dollars in the fraudulent bankruptcy of Banco Ambrosiano.<sup id="cite_ref-49" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-49">[49]</a></sup> The bank has only recently started cleaning up its act, with repeated corruption probes launched by <a href="/wiki/Pope_Benedict_XVI" class="mw-redirect" title="Pope Benedict XVI">Pope Benedict XVI</a> and <a href="/wiki/Pope_Francis" title="Pope Francis">Pope Francis</a>. </p> <h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Assets_and_revenue">Assets and revenue</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Vatican_City&action=edit&section=14" title="Edit section: Assets and revenue">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h3> <div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width:287px;"><a href="/wiki/File:Vatican_ATM_in_Latin.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/62/Vatican_ATM_in_Latin.jpg/285px-Vatican_ATM_in_Latin.jpg" decoding="async" width="285" height="190" class="thumbimage" srcset="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/62/Vatican_ATM_in_Latin.jpg/428px-Vatican_ATM_in_Latin.jpg 1.5x, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/62/Vatican_ATM_in_Latin.jpg/570px-Vatican_ATM_in_Latin.jpg 2x" data-file-width="964" data-file-height="643" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a href="/wiki/File:Vatican_ATM_in_Latin.jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"></a></div>Vatican ATM with instructions in <a href="/wiki/Latin" title="Latin">Latin</a>. They also made the grave sin of using <a href="/wiki/Comic_Sans" class="mw-redirect" title="Comic Sans">Comic Sans</a> for its interface.</div></div></div> <p>Apart from that tangled web of intrigue, the Vatican's assets are generally unknown but certainly ample. In 1965, bankers estimated the Vatican's assets to be between $10 billion and $15 billion based on the fact that the Vatican held Italian stockholdings worth $1.6 billion, some 15% of the Italian market.<sup id="cite_ref-50" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-50">[50]</a></sup> The weird part is that the "Vatican" is two separate entities managing and making revenue. The Holy See, referring to the Church's central administration, makes revenue separately from the Vatican City, which refers to the actual country sitting within Rome. It's a confusing arrangement, which is part of why some weird shit goes down there. </p><p>The Holy See generates revenue through the Peter’s Pence, the 8th-century term for donations from faithful Catholics worldwide.<sup id="cite_ref-invest_51-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-invest-51">[51]</a></sup> The Holy See also uses its wealth to invest in stocks and bonds, hoping to further develop its assets. Too bad for them, though, that it tends to run a huge deficit. In 2018, the Holy See reported a budget deficit of €70 million, raising some fears of a default.<sup id="cite_ref-52" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-52">[52]</a></sup> The root of this loss is the sheer burden of running the massive Catholic Church, which tends not to be offset even by reaching into the Vatican Bank's coffers.<sup id="cite_ref-cnnmo_46-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-cnnmo-46">[46]</a></sup> </p><p>The Vatican City, meanwhile, is much more profitable. In 2014, it reported a surplus of €63.5 million, thanks mainly to tourism and other ventures related to its assets.<sup id="cite_ref-cnnmo_46-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-cnnmo-46">[46]</a></sup> The Vatican infamously rented out the Sistine Chapel to Porsche to hold a private charity party in 2014, making a tidy sum.<sup id="cite_ref-53" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-53">[53]</a></sup> The Vatican City also supports itself by selling books, stamps, coins, medals, and tourist souvenirs and charging fees for admission to museums and cultural sites.<sup id="cite_ref-54" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-54">[54]</a></sup> The Vatican City's Eurozone arrangement allows it to issue limited numbers of its own euro coins, naturally in high demand from collectors.<sup id="cite_ref-55" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-55">[55]</a></sup> </p> <h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Landmarks_and_holy_sites">Landmarks and holy sites</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Vatican_City&action=edit&section=15" title="Edit section: Landmarks and holy sites">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h2> <div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width:277px;"><a href="/wiki/File:Petersdom_von_Engelsburg_gesehen.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/15/Petersdom_von_Engelsburg_gesehen.jpg/330px-Petersdom_von_Engelsburg_gesehen.jpg" decoding="async" width="275" height="206" class="thumbimage" srcset="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/15/Petersdom_von_Engelsburg_gesehen.jpg/500px-Petersdom_von_Engelsburg_gesehen.jpg 1.5x, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/15/Petersdom_von_Engelsburg_gesehen.jpg/960px-Petersdom_von_Engelsburg_gesehen.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1600" data-file-height="1200" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a href="/wiki/File:Petersdom_von_Engelsburg_gesehen.jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"></a></div>Dome of St. Peter's.</div></div></div> <h3><span id="St._Peter's_Basilica"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="St._Peter.27s_Basilica">St. Peter's Basilica</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Vatican_City&action=edit&section=16" title="Edit section: St. Peter's Basilica">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h3> <p>The centerpiece of the Vatican City, St. Peter's Basilica, in its current form, was commissioned in 1506 and then constructed over decades by various Italian architects. The Renaissance-era building was costly and continues to serve as a monument to the luxury and wealth of the Church.<sup id="cite_ref-56" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-56">[56]</a></sup> Despite its importance, the basilica isn't the heart of the Vatican. It is neither the seat of the Pope nor is it even a cathedral.<sup id="cite_ref-57" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-57">[57]</a></sup> It's basically there to look nice and hold other cool locations and objects. Oh, and it also marks the alleged death site of the apostle <a href="/wiki/St._Peter" class="mw-redirect" title="St. Peter">St. Peter</a>, where he was <a href="/wiki/Torture" title="Torture">tortured</a> on an inverted cross. We're sure that's nice to think about. </p><p>The basilica also holds the <i>Pietà</i>, one of Michelangelo's most famous works, depicting the <a href="/wiki/Virgin_Mary" class="mw-redirect" title="Virgin Mary">Virgin Mary</a> mourning and cradling the body of her dead son.<sup id="cite_ref-58" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-58">[58]</a></sup> </p><p>As you might expect from the Catholic Church, the basilica has a strict dress code. Shorts, above-the-knee skirts, or bare shoulders are not allowed in.<sup id="cite_ref-59" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-59">[59]</a></sup> Hats also need to be off because the Church is run by your stubbornly old-fashioned professor. </p> <h4><span class="mw-headline" id="Chair_of_St._Peter">Chair of St. Peter</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Vatican_City&action=edit&section=17" title="Edit section: Chair of St. Peter">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h4> <div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width:252px;"><a href="/wiki/File:Vaticano_sightseeing_fc26.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2e/Vaticano_sightseeing_fc26.jpg/250px-Vaticano_sightseeing_fc26.jpg" decoding="async" width="250" height="188" class="thumbimage" srcset="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2e/Vaticano_sightseeing_fc26.jpg/375px-Vaticano_sightseeing_fc26.jpg 1.5x, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2e/Vaticano_sightseeing_fc26.jpg/500px-Vaticano_sightseeing_fc26.jpg 2x" data-file-width="4000" data-file-height="3000" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a href="/wiki/File:Vaticano_sightseeing_fc26.jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"></a></div>Altar of the Chair of St. Peter.</div></div></div> <p>One of the centerpieces of the basilica interior is a massive <a href="/wiki/Relic" title="Relic">relic</a> purported to be Peter's original seat in his role as the first bishop of Rome.<sup id="cite_ref-60" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-60">[60]</a></sup> It currently sits on an opulent altar for visitors to gaze at, although popes used to sit on it in the past. Pieces of the chair were cut away for other relics, and the rest has been sealed under various layers of ornamentation.<sup id="cite_ref-61" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-61">[61]</a></sup> The wood that remains is heavily decayed. </p><p>The relic is subject to much celebration by the Catholic Church due to its representation of the Pope's authority. The annual Feast of the Chair of Peter is traditionally celebrated on 18 January.<sup id="cite_ref-62" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-62">[62]</a></sup> Pope Benedict XVI described the chair as "a symbol of the special mission of Peter and his Successors to tend Christ’s flock, keeping it united in faith and in charity."<sup id="cite_ref-63" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-63">[63]</a></sup> </p><p>On the altar of the relic, its importance is further highlighted with a gilded depiction of St. Peter receiving the keys to the Church from Jesus.<sup id="cite_ref-64" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-64">[64]</a></sup> In total, the whole area serves as the Catholic Church's grandiose monument to itself. </p> <h4><span class="mw-headline" id="Vatican_Necropolis">Vatican Necropolis</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Vatican_City&action=edit&section=18" title="Edit section: Vatican Necropolis">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h4> <div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width:252px;"><a href="/wiki/File:Tomb_of_pope_Johannes_Paulus_I.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0e/Tomb_of_pope_Johannes_Paulus_I.jpg/250px-Tomb_of_pope_Johannes_Paulus_I.jpg" decoding="async" width="250" height="188" class="thumbimage" srcset="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0e/Tomb_of_pope_Johannes_Paulus_I.jpg/500px-Tomb_of_pope_Johannes_Paulus_I.jpg 1.5x" data-file-width="2560" data-file-height="1920" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a href="/wiki/File:Tomb_of_pope_Johannes_Paulus_I.jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"></a></div>Tomb of John Paul I in the grottoes.</div></div></div> <p>Beneath the basilica is a vast graveyard that dates back to the <a href="/wiki/Roman_Empire" title="Roman Empire">Roman Empire</a>, allegedly containing the remains of the family of Julius Caesar.<sup id="cite_ref-vnecr_65-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-vnecr-65">[65]</a></sup> Excavations there have been going on since the 1940s, sponsored by the Vatican. Alongside the space's historical significance, the Church considers it one of the holiest places in the world because this is where St. Peter was supposed to have been tortured to death and then buried.<sup id="cite_ref-vnecr_65-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-vnecr-65">[65]</a></sup> Again, real pleasant story. </p> <h4><span class="mw-headline" id="Vatican_Grottoes">Vatican Grottoes</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Vatican_City&action=edit&section=19" title="Edit section: Vatican Grottoes">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h4> <p>Separate from the Necropolis, the Vatican Grottoes is yet another vast underground graveyard below St. Peter’s Basilica. A lot of dead people here, we tell ya. It holds the remains of numerous notable Catholics, including 91 popes, a fistful of cardinals, Queen Christina of <a href="/wiki/Sweden" title="Sweden">Sweden</a>, some of the Stuarts of <a href="/wiki/England" title="England">England</a>/<a href="/wiki/Scotland" title="Scotland">Scotland</a>, and other secular rulers.<sup id="cite_ref-66" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-66">[66]</a></sup> John Paul II also had a tomb there until he was beatified and moved onto the main floor of St. Peter's. The Grottoes is a very popular site for tourists who value the space for its religious or historical significance. </p> <h3><span id="St._Peter's_Square"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="St._Peter.27s_Square">St. Peter's Square</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Vatican_City&action=edit&section=20" title="Edit section: St. Peter's Square">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h3> <p>In front of the basilica is the keyhole-shaped plaza where tourists and faithful Catholics tend to gather. It's framed by a large colonnade artistically designed to draw the viewer's eye towards the basilica's great dome. Its architecture was inspired and influenced by the Counter-Reformation, as the colonnade is meant to represent the Church's spread arms welcoming people back from the <a href="/wiki/Protestant_Reformation" title="Protestant Reformation">Protestant Reformation</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-basqu_67-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-basqu-67">[67]</a></sup> The colonnade also holds 140 statues of saints. </p><p>At the center stands the Vatican Obelisk, originally looted from <a href="/wiki/Ancient_Egypt" title="Ancient Egypt">Ancient Egypt</a> by Roman Emperor Caligula in 37 CE.<sup id="cite_ref-68" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-68">[68]</a></sup> It remained in Rome until 1585 when Pope Sixtus V decided to have it moved to St. Peter's Square because he needed something to tie the space together. </p><p>Large public events held by the Holy See are usually performed in front of the square since it's the largest gathering area they have. It's not unusual for events like canonization to be attended by millions of people.<sup id="cite_ref-69" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-69">[69]</a></sup> The Pope will also typically hold weekly events in the square for admiring tourists. Unless it's raining, in which case he does his thing inside the basilica.<sup id="cite_ref-70" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-70">[70]</a></sup> Can't have the Holy Father getting wet. </p> <div class="center"><div class="thumb tnone"><div class="thumbinner" style="width:702px;"><a href="/wiki/File:Vatican_StPeter_Square.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7c/Vatican_StPeter_Square.jpg/700px-Vatican_StPeter_Square.jpg" decoding="async" width="700" height="172" class="thumbimage" srcset="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7c/Vatican_StPeter_Square.jpg/1050px-Vatican_StPeter_Square.jpg 1.5x, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7c/Vatican_StPeter_Square.jpg/1400px-Vatican_StPeter_Square.jpg 2x" data-file-width="4855" data-file-height="1190" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a href="/wiki/File:Vatican_StPeter_Square.jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"></a></div>Panorama of St. Peter's Square.</div></div></div></div> <h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Apostolic_Palace">Apostolic Palace</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Vatican_City&action=edit&section=21" title="Edit section: Apostolic Palace">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h3> <div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width:327px;"><a href="/wiki/File:Palais_apostolique_et_aile_de_Constantin.JPG" class="image"><img alt="" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5b/Palais_apostolique_et_aile_de_Constantin.JPG/330px-Palais_apostolique_et_aile_de_Constantin.JPG" decoding="async" width="325" height="217" class="thumbimage" srcset="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5b/Palais_apostolique_et_aile_de_Constantin.JPG/500px-Palais_apostolique_et_aile_de_Constantin.JPG 1.5x, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5b/Palais_apostolique_et_aile_de_Constantin.JPG/960px-Palais_apostolique_et_aile_de_Constantin.JPG 2x" data-file-width="2816" data-file-height="1883" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a href="/wiki/File:Palais_apostolique_et_aile_de_Constantin.JPG" class="internal" title="Enlarge"></a></div>The Palace viewed from St. Peter's Square.</div></div></div> <table style="margin: auto; border-collapse:collapse; border-style:none; background-color:transparent;" class="cquote"> <tbody><tr> <td><div style="padding:4px 50px;position:relative;"><span style="position:absolute;left:10px;top:-6px;z-index:1;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-weight:bold;color:#B2B7F2;font-size:36px">“</span><span style="position:absolute;right:10px;bottom:-20px;z-index:1;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-weight:bold;color:#B2B7F2;font-size:36px">”</span>Since God has given us the papacy, let us enjoy it.</div> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="padding:4px 10px 8px;font-size:smaller;line-height:1.6em;text-align:right;"><cite style="font-style:normal;position:relative;z-index:2">—Pope Leo X (1475-1521).<sup id="cite_ref-pbath_71-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-pbath-71">[71]</a></sup></cite> </td></tr></tbody></table> <p>The Apostolic Palace is the official residence of the Pope, featuring its own array of historical art and artifacts. It is located to the side of St. Peter's Basilica, and part of the Palace now belongs to the Vatican Museums due to the amount of cool shit in there. </p> <h4><span class="mw-headline" id="Papal_apartments">Papal apartments</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Vatican_City&action=edit&section=22" title="Edit section: Papal apartments">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h4> <p>The papal apartments are an incredibly luxurious suite of rooms to keep popes living in comfort. It contains more than a dozen rooms, including staff quarters, a terrace, and extensive views over the city of Rome.<sup id="cite_ref-72" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-72">[72]</a></sup> Ascetical theology? What's that? </p><p>The current Pope, Francis, decided that the apartments were just too much for his austere lifestyle and instead chose to remain in the Vatican City's much more modest guest rooms.<sup id="cite_ref-73" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-73">[73]</a></sup> However, he still uses the apartment window to address the public in St. Peter's Square on certain occasions. </p> <h4><span class="mw-headline" id="Borgia_rooms">Borgia rooms</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Vatican_City&action=edit&section=23" title="Edit section: Borgia rooms">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h4> <div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width:267px;"><a href="/wiki/File:Borgia_Apartments.jpeg" class="image"><img alt="" src="/w/images/thumb/a/a1/Borgia_Apartments.jpeg/265px-Borgia_Apartments.jpeg" decoding="async" width="265" height="185" class="thumbimage" srcset="/w/images/thumb/a/a1/Borgia_Apartments.jpeg/398px-Borgia_Apartments.jpeg 1.5x, /w/images/thumb/a/a1/Borgia_Apartments.jpeg/530px-Borgia_Apartments.jpeg 2x" data-file-width="1024" data-file-height="714" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a href="/wiki/File:Borgia_Apartments.jpeg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"></a></div>A room in the Borgia apartments.</div></div></div> <p>Steeped in scandal, the Borgia dynasty represents one of the most infamous chapters of Vatican history for their great control over the papal elections and alleged corruption and sexual immorality.<sup id="cite_ref-74" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-74">[74]</a></sup> While their nasty reputation has since been disputed by some historians, there's no doubt that their successors hated them. </p><p>Still, the Borgias are notable for their great sponsorship of the arts during the Renaissance. Rodrigo Borgia, also known as Pope Alessandro VI, decided to make his mark on the Apostolic Palace by commissioning the painter Pinturicchio to decorate a new set of papal apartments in 1492.<sup id="cite_ref-borg_75-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-borg-75">[75]</a></sup> The frescoes he painted covered a variety of subjects, but most of them ultimately worked around to exalt the Borgia family and the Pope himself.<sup id="cite_ref-borg_75-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-borg-75">[75]</a></sup> Interestingly, a recently uncovered fresco in the Borgia rooms seems to be the earliest known European depiction of <a href="/wiki/Native_Americans" class="mw-redirect" title="Native Americans">Native Americans</a>, having been painted just two years after the voyage of <a href="/wiki/Christopher_Columbus" title="Christopher Columbus">Christopher Columbus</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-76" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-76">[76]</a></sup> This makes perfect sense, though, since the Borgia family was from <a href="/wiki/Spain" title="Spain">Spain</a>. </p><p>A lot of bad shit went down in the Borgia rooms during the bloody history of the early modern papacy. The second husband of Lucrezia Borgia, Alfonso of Aragon, was murdered in the rooms.<sup id="cite_ref-mjborg_77-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-mjborg-77">[77]</a></sup> One of the Borgia popes also died horribly in the rooms while wars and schemes were plotted there.<sup id="cite_ref-mjborg_77-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-mjborg-77">[77]</a></sup> After the downfall of the Borgias, the apartments were eventually sealed up by future popes. </p> <h4><span class="mw-headline" id="Raphael_rooms">Raphael rooms</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Vatican_City&action=edit&section=24" title="Edit section: Raphael rooms">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h4> <div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width:277px;"><a href="/wiki/File:Raffael_Stanza_della_Segnatura.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a8/Raffael_Stanza_della_Segnatura.jpg/330px-Raffael_Stanza_della_Segnatura.jpg" decoding="async" width="275" height="220" class="thumbimage" srcset="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a8/Raffael_Stanza_della_Segnatura.jpg/500px-Raffael_Stanza_della_Segnatura.jpg 1.5x, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a8/Raffael_Stanza_della_Segnatura.jpg/960px-Raffael_Stanza_della_Segnatura.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1200" data-file-height="959" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a href="/wiki/File:Raffael_Stanza_della_Segnatura.jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"></a></div>One of the Raphael rooms. <i>The School of Athens</i> is on the right.</div></div></div> <p>Containing some of the most essential pieces from the Italian Renaissance, the Raphael Rooms are a series of reception areas in the Palace that were painted by the aforementioned Italian prodigy. They have a fairly <a href="/wiki/Political" class="mw-redirect" title="Political">political</a> history, as they were commissioned by Pope Julius II to serve as the new papal apartment rooms in the hopes of overshadowing the unpopular Borgia apartments on the lower floor.<sup id="cite_ref-78" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-78">[78]</a></sup> One of the most famous frescoes is <i>The School of Athens</i>, an instantly recognizable depiction of ancient history's most famous <a href="/wiki/Philosopher" class="mw-redirect" title="Philosopher">philosophers</a> like <a href="/wiki/Plato" title="Plato">Plato</a>, <a href="/wiki/Socrates" title="Socrates">Socrates</a>, and Euclid.<sup id="cite_ref-79" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-79">[79]</a></sup> Seriously, you've almost certainly seen it somewhere in a <a href="/wiki/Book" class="mw-redirect" title="Book">book</a> or on the <a href="/wiki/Internet" title="Internet">internet</a>. </p><p>Each of the four rooms has a significant theme. The first is themed around the life of Roman Emperor Constantine, the second shows persecution against Christians in ancient times, the third shows the beginning of the Renaissance, and the fourth shows some political highlights of the papacy like the crowning of <a href="/wiki/Charlemagne" title="Charlemagne">Charlemagne</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-80" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-80">[80]</a></sup> The fourth ended up being the favorite, as it resonated with the bloodthirsty and ambitious popes of the early modern era. </p> <h4><span class="mw-headline" id="The_porn_bathroom">The porn bathroom</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Vatican_City&action=edit&section=25" title="Edit section: The porn bathroom">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h4> <p>Speaking of Raphael, there's also a bathroom full of <a href="/wiki/Porn" class="mw-redirect" title="Porn">porn</a> in the Pope's residence. A small room on the third floor of the Apostolic Palace, the infamous <i>Stufetta del cardinal Bibbiena</i>, is a papal bathroom festooned with pornographic frescoes painted in 1516 by Raphael or someone inspired by him.<sup id="cite_ref-81" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-81">[81]</a></sup> Most of the frescoes depict scenes from Roman mythology, which makes their scandalous nature make a lot more sense. </p><p>Cardinal Bibbiena was a fan of the classical arts, and the bathroom frescoes recount scenes from the life of the goddess Venus which the cardinal would have enjoyed while lounging in his, get this, hot tub.<sup id="cite_ref-pbath_71-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-pbath-71">[71]</a></sup> Understandably, future Catholic bigwigs weren't too impressed with the space. Over the following centuries, the bathroom was defaced, whitewashed, and even turned into a kitchen before being rediscovered in the 19th century.<sup id="cite_ref-82" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-82">[82]</a></sup> Even after that, access remains very restricted since the bathroom is now part of the Pope's private residence (and the Vatican still doesn't want people looking too closely at the porn). </p> <h4><span class="mw-headline" id="Sistine_Chapel">Sistine Chapel</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Vatican_City&action=edit&section=26" title="Edit section: Sistine Chapel">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h4> <div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width:317px;"><a href="/wiki/File:SixtinischeKapelle.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/db/SixtinischeKapelle.jpg/330px-SixtinischeKapelle.jpg" decoding="async" width="315" height="210" class="thumbimage" srcset="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/db/SixtinischeKapelle.jpg/500px-SixtinischeKapelle.jpg 1.5x, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/db/SixtinischeKapelle.jpg 2x" data-file-width="600" data-file-height="400" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a href="/wiki/File:SixtinischeKapelle.jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"></a></div>The Sistine Chapel's iconic ceiling and art.</div></div></div> <p>Probably the most famous attraction in the entire damn Vatican is the Sistine Chapel, which had its interior decorated by various Renaissance painters, including Michelangelo, Botticelli, and Pinturicchio.<sup id="cite_ref-sisb_83-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-sisb-83">[83]</a></sup> Its exterior looks like drab shit, but the interior contains the most important works of art from the Italian Renaissance. Most famous are the frescoes that adorn the ceiling, painted by Michelangelo from 1508 to 1512, a presumably uncomfortable task.<sup id="cite_ref-sisb_83-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-sisb-83">[83]</a></sup> <i>The Creation of Adam</i>, one of the frescoes on the ceiling, has two of perhaps the most famous depictions of the Christian God,<sup id="cite_ref-84" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-84">[84]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-85" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-85">[85]</a></sup> one of which features prominently in <a href="/wiki/Rationalwiki" class="mw-redirect" title="Rationalwiki">Rationalwiki</a>'s article on <a href="/wiki/God" title="God">God</a>. Michelangelo had a hard time with his work, and he vented by inserting images of his critics into <i>The Last Judgement</i>, which depicts <a href="/wiki/Sin" title="Sin">sinners</a> being cast into <a href="/wiki/Hell" title="Hell">Hell</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-sismick_86-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-sismick-86">[86]</a></sup> Nice one. </p><p>The Renaissance-era depictions of naked men didn't sit well with future popes, and Michelangelo's works were <a href="/wiki/Censorship" title="Censorship">censored</a> with underwear to soothe the delicate sensibilities of the time.<sup id="cite_ref-87" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-87">[87]</a></sup> The alterations largely remained during the restoration in the 1980s, as they are now considered a part of the building's history.<sup id="cite_ref-sismick_86-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-sismick-86">[86]</a></sup> Some frescoes have also been subject to modern speculation, like the idea that God rides an intentionally-hidden human <a href="/wiki/Brain" title="Brain">brain</a> in <i>The Creation of Adam</i>. </p><p>Alongside its status as a vital tourist moneymaker for the Vatican, the Chapel also serves the Holy See by being the location where the College of Cardinals assembles to pick a new pope.<sup id="cite_ref-88" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-88">[88]</a></sup> The Chapel has a special chimney through which either white or black smoke is blasted to alert the public to the voting status. </p> <center><ul class="gallery mw-gallery-traditional"> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 260px"><div style="width: 260px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 255px;"><div style="margin:45px auto;"><a href="/wiki/File:The_Creation_of_the_Sun_and_the_Moon,_Michelangelo_(1508-1512).jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/eb/The_Creation_of_the_Sun_and_the_Moon%2C_Michelangelo_%281508-1512%29.jpg/250px-The_Creation_of_the_Sun_and_the_Moon%2C_Michelangelo_%281508-1512%29.jpg" decoding="async" width="225" height="165" srcset="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/eb/The_Creation_of_the_Sun_and_the_Moon%2C_Michelangelo_%281508-1512%29.jpg/500px-The_Creation_of_the_Sun_and_the_Moon%2C_Michelangelo_%281508-1512%29.jpg 1.5x" data-file-width="2016" data-file-height="1477" /></a></div></div> <div class="gallerytext"> <p><i>The Creation of the <a href="/wiki/Sun" title="Sun">Sun</a>, <a href="/wiki/Moon" title="Moon">Moon</a>, and Plants</i> </p> </div> </div></li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 260px"><div style="width: 260px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 255px;"><div style="margin:52.5px auto;"><a href="/wiki/File:Creaci%C3%B3n_de_Ad%C3%A1n.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e0/Creaci%C3%B3n_de_Ad%C3%A1n.jpg/250px-Creaci%C3%B3n_de_Ad%C3%A1n.jpg" decoding="async" width="225" height="150" srcset="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e0/Creaci%C3%B3n_de_Ad%C3%A1n.jpg/500px-Creaci%C3%B3n_de_Ad%C3%A1n.jpg 1.5x" data-file-width="4256" data-file-height="2843" /></a></div></div> <div class="gallerytext"> <p><i>The Creation of <a href="/wiki/Adam" class="mw-redirect" title="Adam">Adam</a></i> </p> </div> </div></li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 260px"><div style="width: 260px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 255px;"><div style="margin:52.5px auto;"><a href="/wiki/File:Expulsion_del_para%C3%ADso.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9b/Expulsion_del_para%C3%ADso.jpg/250px-Expulsion_del_para%C3%ADso.jpg" decoding="async" width="225" height="150" srcset="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9b/Expulsion_del_para%C3%ADso.jpg/500px-Expulsion_del_para%C3%ADso.jpg 1.5x" data-file-width="4315" data-file-height="2884" /></a></div></div> <div class="gallerytext"> <p><i>The Fall and Expulsion from <a href="/wiki/Garden_of_Eden" title="Garden of Eden">Paradise</a></i> </p> </div> </div></li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 260px"><div style="width: 260px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 255px;"><div style="margin:53.5px auto;"><a href="/wiki/File:Deluge,_Michelangelo.png" class="image"><img alt="" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/22/Deluge%2C_Michelangelo.png/225px-Deluge%2C_Michelangelo.png" decoding="async" width="225" height="148" srcset="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/22/Deluge%2C_Michelangelo.png/338px-Deluge%2C_Michelangelo.png 1.5x, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/22/Deluge%2C_Michelangelo.png/450px-Deluge%2C_Michelangelo.png 2x" data-file-width="3643" data-file-height="2394" /></a></div></div> <div class="gallerytext"> <p><i><a href="/wiki/Global_flood" title="Global flood">The Deluge</a></i> </p> </div> </div></li> </ul></center> <h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Vatican_Museums">Vatican Museums</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Vatican_City&action=edit&section=27" title="Edit section: Vatican Museums">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h3> <div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width:277px;"><a href="/wiki/File:Room_XII_(17th_century)_of_the_Pinacoteca_Vaticana.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/54/Room_XII_%2817th_century%29_of_the_Pinacoteca_Vaticana.jpg/330px-Room_XII_%2817th_century%29_of_the_Pinacoteca_Vaticana.jpg" decoding="async" width="275" height="206" class="thumbimage" srcset="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/54/Room_XII_%2817th_century%29_of_the_Pinacoteca_Vaticana.jpg/500px-Room_XII_%2817th_century%29_of_the_Pinacoteca_Vaticana.jpg 1.5x, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/54/Room_XII_%2817th_century%29_of_the_Pinacoteca_Vaticana.jpg/960px-Room_XII_%2817th_century%29_of_the_Pinacoteca_Vaticana.jpg 2x" data-file-width="4608" data-file-height="3456" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a href="/wiki/File:Room_XII_(17th_century)_of_the_Pinacoteca_Vaticana.jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"></a></div>Tourists in the Pinacoteca Vaticana.</div></div></div> <p>As a massively powerful and wealthy institution across <a href="/wiki/Europe" title="Europe">Europe</a>, the Catholic Church has unsurprisingly amassed a vast collection of art and treasure. Many are now on display in the Vatican Museums, a building complex connected to the Apostolic Palace. Certain attractions within the Palace, including the Sistine Chapel and the Raphael Rooms, are under the Museum's watch and are part of the visitor path. Collections include the Pinacoteca art gallery, Pio Clementino Museum of statuary, and the Gregorian Egyptian Museum. </p><p>The Vatican's main art collection, the Pinacoteca, used to be housed in the Borgia rooms before being moved into the museums. The collection boasts 460 paintings, including absolute masterpieces by prominent artists like Giotto, Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, il Perugino, and Caravaggio.<sup id="cite_ref-mus7_89-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-mus7-89">[89]</a></sup> Much of the collection was "appropriated" by <a href="/wiki/Napoleon_Bonaparte" title="Napoleon Bonaparte">Napoleon Bonaparte</a> under the Treaty of Tolentino (1797), but the pieces were eventually returned after the <a href="/wiki/Dictator" class="mw-redirect" title="Dictator">dictator</a>'s downfall.<sup id="cite_ref-90" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-90">[90]</a></sup> </p><p>The Pio Clementino Museum houses pieces dating back to the Roman Empire, perhaps most famously the Augustus of Prima Porta statue depicting Augustus Caesar commissioned in the 1st century CE.<sup id="cite_ref-91" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-91">[91]</a></sup> Augustus was the first emperor of Rome. Napoleon also seized this collection and hauled it off to Paris before eventually being returned. </p><p>Finally, the Gregorian Egyptian Museum houses numerous artifacts from <a href="/wiki/Ancient_Egypt" title="Ancient Egypt">Ancient Egypt</a> sourced through the Roman Empire's conquest of the region and the much later resurgence in European interest in Egyptology.<sup id="cite_ref-92" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-92">[92]</a></sup> As an exhibition on Egyptology, the Vatican museum holds the mandatory display of fucked-up looking mummies. No collection on Egypt is complete without at least one. </p><p>In short, the Vatican Museums have some cool shit. </p> <h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Vatican_Library">Vatican Library</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Vatican_City&action=edit&section=28" title="Edit section: Vatican Library">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h3> <div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width:302px;"><a href="/wiki/File:The_Sistine_Hall_of_the_Vatican_Library_(2994335291).jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a2/The_Sistine_Hall_of_the_Vatican_Library_%282994335291%29.jpg/300px-The_Sistine_Hall_of_the_Vatican_Library_%282994335291%29.jpg" decoding="async" width="300" height="199" class="thumbimage" srcset="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a2/The_Sistine_Hall_of_the_Vatican_Library_%282994335291%29.jpg/450px-The_Sistine_Hall_of_the_Vatican_Library_%282994335291%29.jpg 1.5x, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a2/The_Sistine_Hall_of_the_Vatican_Library_%282994335291%29.jpg/600px-The_Sistine_Hall_of_the_Vatican_Library_%282994335291%29.jpg 2x" data-file-width="4288" data-file-height="2848" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a href="/wiki/File:The_Sistine_Hall_of_the_Vatican_Library_(2994335291).jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"></a></div>Hall of the Vatican Library.</div></div></div> <p>The Vatican Apostolic Library is one of the oldest libraries in the world, holding some 1.1 million printed works.<sup id="cite_ref-93" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-93">[93]</a></sup> Unfortunately, it's only a research library, and visitors must have documented academic qualifications and research needs. Luckily, an ongoing project has been steadily digitizing the collection, meaning that much of it is now available online.<sup id="cite_ref-94" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-94">[94]</a></sup> Due to the sheer amount of material to process, the project will continue until at least 2041. </p><p>The Vatican's collection was initially modest, but Pope Nicholas V greatly enlarged it by making off with the remaining collection from Constantinople after that city's conquest by the <a href="/wiki/Ottoman_Empire" class="mw-redirect" title="Ottoman Empire">Ottoman Empire</a> in 1453.<sup id="cite_ref-95" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-95">[95]</a></sup> Like the museums, the library is far more than a religious interest, as there are some priceless historical artifacts. Like apparently everything that wasn't nailed down in Rome, the Vatican Library was temporarily carted off to Paris by Napoleon Bonaparte before being returned. Can't have shit in <s>Detroit</s> Rome. </p> <h4><span id="The_Secret_Archives_that_weren't"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="The_Secret_Archives_that_weren.27t">The Secret Archives that weren't</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Vatican_City&action=edit&section=29" title="Edit section: The Secret Archives that weren't">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h4> <p>Proponents of some unconventional ideas (e.g., that there is a <a href="/wiki/Lemuria" title="Lemuria">lost continent formerly populated by lemurs</a> or that <a href="/wiki/Protochronism#The_Vatican_has_secret_documents_proving_Latin_is_descended_from_Romanian" title="Protochronism">Latin is derived from Romanian</a>) claim that there is proof for their theories inside the Vatican Secret Archives, <a href="/wiki/Conspiracy_theory" title="Conspiracy theory">which are being hidden by the Vatican</a>. Such hypotheses are, however, undercut by the fact that the archives were opened up to scholars (though not the public) in 1881, with over a thousand researchers visiting them every year.<sup id="cite_ref-vatican_96-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-vatican-96">[96]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-97" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-97">[97]</a></sup> The word "Secret" is a mistranslation of the word <i>secretum</i>, a more accurate rendering of which would be "personal" or "private", as it refers to the Popes' personal letters.<sup id="cite_ref-vatican_96-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-vatican-96">[96]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-98" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-98">[98]</a></sup> Papal papers written after 1939 are withheld from scholars,<sup id="cite_ref-99" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-99">[99]</a></sup> but these documents are unlikely to have any relevance to the proposed unconventional theories. </p><p>In 2019, Pope Francis renamed the Vatican Secret Archives, terming them the "Vatican Apostolic Archives".<sup id="cite_ref-aposarc_100-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-aposarc-100">[100]</a></sup> Notable (and juicy) pieces in the archives include letters about King Henry VIII's requests to divorce Catherine of Aragon and the original acts of the 1633 trial of astronomer <a href="/wiki/Galileo" class="mw-redirect" title="Galileo">Galileo</a> by the Roman Inquisition.<sup id="cite_ref-aposarc_100-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-aposarc-100">[100]</a></sup> In the same year, the Vatican also opened the records of Pope Pius XII (1939 – 1958), potentially promising to shed much light on his responses to and activities during <a href="/wiki/World_War_II" title="World War II">World War II</a> and the <a href="/wiki/Holocaust" title="Holocaust">Holocaust</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-101" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-101">[101]</a></sup> Pius' papacy and the general attitude of the Church during that period is, uh, controversial. </p> <h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Vatican_Gardens">Vatican Gardens</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Vatican_City&action=edit&section=30" title="Edit section: Vatican Gardens">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h3> <p>Taking up more than two-thirds of the Vatican City, the Gardens exist to provide a nice little sanctuary to cheer up the Pope.<sup id="cite_ref-rwgard_102-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-rwgard-102">[102]</a></sup> The gardens contain historic fountains, summer houses, the papal helipad, and a chunk of the <a href="/wiki/Berlin_Wall" title="Berlin Wall">Berlin Wall</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-rwgard_102-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-rwgard-102">[102]</a></sup> Unsurprisingly, there is also a shitload of images and statues of the Virgin Mary, some of which are considered holy sites by countries like <a href="/wiki/France" title="France">France</a> and <a href="/wiki/Mexico" title="Mexico">Mexico</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-103" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-103">[103]</a></sup> The Palace of the Governate, the seat of the Vatican City's administration, takes up some space just behind the basilica. </p><p>Those inclined to <a href="/wiki/Snark" class="mw-redirect" title="Snark">snark</a> also refer to the gardens as "the Pope's Playground".<sup id="cite_ref-104" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-104">[104]</a></sup> On the plus side, much of the area is open to tourists and is usually not crowded. So maybe the gardens can be your playground too (as long as you keep your activities wholesome and Christian). </p> <div class="center"><div class="thumb tnone"><div class="thumbinner" style="width:802px;"><a href="/wiki/File:Gardens_in_the_Vatican_City_(4).jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a2/Gardens_in_the_Vatican_City_%284%29.jpg/960px-Gardens_in_the_Vatican_City_%284%29.jpg" decoding="async" width="800" height="170" class="thumbimage" srcset="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a2/Gardens_in_the_Vatican_City_%284%29.jpg/1200px-Gardens_in_the_Vatican_City_%284%29.jpg 1.5x, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a2/Gardens_in_the_Vatican_City_%284%29.jpg/1600px-Gardens_in_the_Vatican_City_%284%29.jpg 2x" data-file-width="12087" data-file-height="2573" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a href="/wiki/File:Gardens_in_the_Vatican_City_(4).jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"></a></div>Panorama of the Vatican Gardens.</div></div></div></div> <h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Domus_Sanctae_Marthae">Domus Sanctae Marthae</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Vatican_City&action=edit&section=31" title="Edit section: Domus Sanctae Marthae">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h3> <p>The Domus Sanctae Marthae, Latin for "St. Martha's House," is a fairly spartan guest hotel for clergy who visit the Vatican for official church business.<sup id="cite_ref-105" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-105">[105]</a></sup> It was completed in 1996, and its construction was controversial with Roman citizens because it blocked some people's views of St. Peter's Basilica.<sup id="cite_ref-106" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-106">[106]</a></sup> So that kinda sucks for them. This is where the College of Cardinals stays during their selection of the new Pope. Nowadays, though, it's mostly notable that the current pontiff, Pope Francis, shunned the papal apartments in the Apostolic Palace and chose to live here instead.<sup id="cite_ref-107" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-107">[107]</a></sup> The apartments are supposed to be comfortable, but not very nice. </p> <h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Vatican_walls">Vatican walls</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Vatican_City&action=edit&section=32" title="Edit section: Vatican walls">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h3> <div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width:267px;"><a href="/wiki/File:Vatican_Museums_%E6%A2%B5%E8%AB%A6%E5%B2%A1%E5%8D%9A%E7%89%A9%E9%A4%A8_-_panoramio_(1).jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/de/Vatican_Museums_%E6%A2%B5%E8%AB%A6%E5%B2%A1%E5%8D%9A%E7%89%A9%E9%A4%A8_-_panoramio_%281%29.jpg/330px-Vatican_Museums_%E6%A2%B5%E8%AB%A6%E5%B2%A1%E5%8D%9A%E7%89%A9%E9%A4%A8_-_panoramio_%281%29.jpg" decoding="async" width="265" height="199" class="thumbimage" srcset="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/de/Vatican_Museums_%E6%A2%B5%E8%AB%A6%E5%B2%A1%E5%8D%9A%E7%89%A9%E9%A4%A8_-_panoramio_%281%29.jpg/500px-Vatican_Museums_%E6%A2%B5%E8%AB%A6%E5%B2%A1%E5%8D%9A%E7%89%A9%E9%A4%A8_-_panoramio_%281%29.jpg 1.5x, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/de/Vatican_Museums_%E6%A2%B5%E8%AB%A6%E5%B2%A1%E5%8D%9A%E7%89%A9%E9%A4%A8_-_panoramio_%281%29.jpg/960px-Vatican_Museums_%E6%A2%B5%E8%AB%A6%E5%B2%A1%E5%8D%9A%E7%89%A9%E9%A4%A8_-_panoramio_%281%29.jpg 2x" data-file-width="3188" data-file-height="2390" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a href="/wiki/File:Vatican_Museums_%E6%A2%B5%E8%AB%A6%E5%B2%A1%E5%8D%9A%E7%89%A9%E9%A4%A8_-_panoramio_(1).jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"></a></div>"Pope Francis, tear down this wall!"</div></div></div> <table style="margin: auto; border-collapse:collapse; border-style:none; background-color:transparent;" class="cquote"> <tbody><tr> <td><div style="padding:4px 50px;position:relative;"><span style="position:absolute;left:10px;top:-6px;z-index:1;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-weight:bold;color:#B2B7F2;font-size:36px">“</span><span style="position:absolute;right:10px;bottom:-20px;z-index:1;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-weight:bold;color:#B2B7F2;font-size:36px">”</span>When they say the wall’s immoral, well then you got to do something about the Vatican, because the Vatican has the biggest wall of them all.</div> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="padding:4px 10px 8px;font-size:smaller;line-height:1.6em;text-align:right;"><cite style="font-style:normal;position:relative;z-index:2">—<a href="/wiki/Donald_Trump" title="Donald Trump">Donald Trump</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-lsvwal_108-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-lsvwal-108">[108]</a></sup> (The Vatican, it should be noted, does not have the "biggest wall of them all").<sup id="cite_ref-109" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-109">[109]</a></sup></cite> </td></tr></tbody></table> <p>Built in response to a massive <a href="/wiki/Muslim" class="mw-redirect" title="Muslim">Muslim</a> pirate attack in 846 CE,<sup id="cite_ref-110" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-110">[110]</a></sup> the Vatican Walls encircle most of the little country’s territory. Given the turbulent and bloody politics of the <a href="/wiki/Middle_Ages" title="Middle Ages">Middle Ages</a>, the walls weathered multiple great attacks, most notably the Sack of Rome in 1527. Rome was also a city steeped in political violence. After imminent threats receded, though, the Vatican opened itself up again. The walls stuck around mainly as a symbol of the pontifical power. They basically exist just to look cool.<sup id="cite_ref-lsvwal_108-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-lsvwal-108">[108]</a></sup> </p><p>Despite the presence of the walls, the Vatican City is no fortress. Visitors can simply walk into St. Peter's Square with no passport required and only a white painted line showing that a border even exists.<sup id="cite_ref-111" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-111">[111]</a></sup> Three of the six gates through the Vatican walls are also open to the public. </p><p>The walls were sucked into a political controversy when Pope Francis made comments critical of Donald Trump's proposed <a href="/wiki/Great_Wall_of_America" title="Great Wall of America">Great Wall of America</a>, and <a href="/wiki/Conservatives" class="mw-redirect" title="Conservatives">conservatives</a> promptly pounced on the Vatican walls as an example of <a href="/wiki/Hypocrisy" title="Hypocrisy">hypocrisy</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-112" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-112">[112]</a></sup> The more informed pointed out that the wall doesn't wrap around the entire city and that visitors can walk right in. </p> <h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Notable_extraterritorial_properties">Notable extraterritorial properties</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Vatican_City&action=edit&section=33" title="Edit section: Notable extraterritorial properties">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h2> <div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width:277px;"><a href="/wiki/File:B._San_Giovanni_in_Laterano_-_panoramio.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/21/B._San_Giovanni_in_Laterano_-_panoramio.jpg/275px-B._San_Giovanni_in_Laterano_-_panoramio.jpg" decoding="async" width="275" height="183" class="thumbimage" srcset="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/21/B._San_Giovanni_in_Laterano_-_panoramio.jpg/413px-B._San_Giovanni_in_Laterano_-_panoramio.jpg 1.5x, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/21/B._San_Giovanni_in_Laterano_-_panoramio.jpg/550px-B._San_Giovanni_in_Laterano_-_panoramio.jpg 2x" data-file-width="4191" data-file-height="2783" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a href="/wiki/File:B._San_Giovanni_in_Laterano_-_panoramio.jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"></a></div>The true seat of the papacy.</div></div></div> <p>Under the terms of the Lateran Treaty, the Holy See also owns a lot of shit throughout the city of Rome and elsewhere in Italy. Although on Italian soil, these properties have many immunities and privileges comparable to foreign embassies.<sup id="cite_ref-113" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-113">[113]</a></sup> </p> <h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Archbasilica_of_Saint_John_Lateran">Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Vatican_City&action=edit&section=34" title="Edit section: Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h3> <p>Despite being outside of the Vatican City, the Archbasilica is perhaps the most crucial property of the Holy See. Given by Roman Emperor Constantine I to the Bishop of Rome, this building is the seat of the Diocese of Rome and is thus the true seat of the papacy.<sup id="cite_ref-jlat_114-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-jlat-114">[114]</a></sup> It is also known as the Basilica of St. Giovanni. The building's bronze doors originally belonged to the Curia Julia, better known as the Senate House of the Roman Empire.<sup id="cite_ref-jlat_114-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-jlat-114">[114]</a></sup> During World War II, the archbasilica's clergy used their legal privileges to get away with sheltering <a href="/wiki/Jews" class="mw-redirect" title="Jews">Jews</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-115" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-115">[115]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-116" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-116">[116]</a></sup> </p> <div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width:167px;"><a href="/wiki/File:Scala_Santa_(Rome)_04.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c7/Scala_Santa_%28Rome%29_04.jpg/165px-Scala_Santa_%28Rome%29_04.jpg" decoding="async" width="165" height="249" class="thumbimage" srcset="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c7/Scala_Santa_%28Rome%29_04.jpg/248px-Scala_Santa_%28Rome%29_04.jpg 1.5x, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c7/Scala_Santa_%28Rome%29_04.jpg/330px-Scala_Santa_%28Rome%29_04.jpg 2x" data-file-width="3264" data-file-height="4928" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a href="/wiki/File:Scala_Santa_(Rome)_04.jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"></a></div>Pilgrims on the stairs.</div></div></div> <p>The northern entrance of the Archbasilica also holds the oldest Egyptian obelisk in Rome, which originally stood in the temple complex of Karnak.<sup id="cite_ref-cmswr_117-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-cmswr-117">[117]</a></sup> It holds many first-class relics, including the table which Catholics believe hosted the Last Supper.<sup id="cite_ref-cmswr_117-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-cmswr-117">[117]</a></sup> Some popes also have their tombs there. </p> <h4><span class="mw-headline" id="Scala_Sancta">Scala Sancta</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Vatican_City&action=edit&section=35" title="Edit section: Scala Sancta">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h4> <p>Near the Archbasilica are the Holy Stairs, which you might point to as proof that Catholics will make anything into a relic. Believed to have been taken from <a href="/wiki/Jerusalem" title="Jerusalem">Jerusalem</a> by St. Helena, these stairs were allegedly scaled by Jesus during his trial before Pontius Pilate.<sup id="cite_ref-cmswr_117-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-cmswr-117">[117]</a></sup> They attract Catholic pilgrims who carefully climb the steps on their knees and occasionally kiss places where indicators claim that Christ's blood fell.<sup id="cite_ref-scalsanc_118-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-scalsanc-118">[118]</a></sup> That's pretty gross. </p><p>Luckily for the stairs, they are encased in wood to protect against wear-and-tear, although some pilgrims with EX-rank luck got to see the bare marble during a 2019 restoration.<sup id="cite_ref-119" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-119">[119]</a></sup> It also helps that visitors are not allowed to climb the stairs on foot to avoid desecrating them with dirty shoes. </p><p>The stairs attracted some scorn over the ages, with <a href="/wiki/Martin_Luther" title="Martin Luther">Martin Luther</a> claiming to have felt shame in such absurdity while Charles Dickens called the sight "ridiculous and unpleasant".<sup id="cite_ref-scalsanc_118-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-scalsanc-118">[118]</a></sup> </p> <h4><span class="mw-headline" id="Sancta_Sanctorum">Sancta Sanctorum</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Vatican_City&action=edit&section=36" title="Edit section: Sancta Sanctorum">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h4> <p>At the top of the Holy Stairs, the Sancta Sanctorum was the private chapel of the Pope for the entire history of the papacy until it was opened to the public after the papacy's temporary move to Avignon, France.<sup id="cite_ref-120" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-120">[120]</a></sup> It holds a reliquary box that allegedly contains relics from 13 saints, while the box itself is supposed to represent the <a href="/wiki/Ark_of_the_Covenant" title="Ark of the Covenant">Ark of the Covenant</a>. Assuming you believe <a href="/wiki/Ethiopia" title="Ethiopia">Ethiopia</a>, the real Ark is there. Regardless, the Church freely admits that they don't have it. The chapel also holds an icon that the Church says was <a href="/wiki/Miracle" title="Miracle">miraculously</a> painted by an <a href="/wiki/Angel" title="Angel">angel</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-121" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-121">[121]</a></sup> The chapel's inscription, along with its name, claims that it's the holiest place in the world, although many places contest that title. </p> <h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Palace_of_Castel_Gandolfo">Palace of Castel Gandolfo</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Vatican_City&action=edit&section=37" title="Edit section: Palace of Castel Gandolfo">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h3> <div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width:252px;"><a href="/wiki/File:Pontifical_palace_and_Vatican_Observatory,_Castel_Gandolfo.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fc/Pontifical_palace_and_Vatican_Observatory%2C_Castel_Gandolfo.jpg/250px-Pontifical_palace_and_Vatican_Observatory%2C_Castel_Gandolfo.jpg" decoding="async" width="250" height="167" class="thumbimage" srcset="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fc/Pontifical_palace_and_Vatican_Observatory%2C_Castel_Gandolfo.jpg/375px-Pontifical_palace_and_Vatican_Observatory%2C_Castel_Gandolfo.jpg 1.5x, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fc/Pontifical_palace_and_Vatican_Observatory%2C_Castel_Gandolfo.jpg/500px-Pontifical_palace_and_Vatican_Observatory%2C_Castel_Gandolfo.jpg 2x" data-file-width="2048" data-file-height="1366" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a href="/wiki/File:Pontifical_palace_and_Vatican_Observatory,_Castel_Gandolfo.jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"></a></div>The pope's summer pad.</div></div></div> <p>The Pope's summer residence for 400 years, the castle was acquired by the papacy when the Italian Savelli family could not pay their debts.<sup id="cite_ref-122" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-122">[122]</a></sup> And you know what happens when ya don't pay youse debts to Italians, dontcha? After seizing the castle, the various popes of the Church had it renovated and turned into a sweet-ass vacation pad for the summers. </p><p>After many centuries, Pope Francis again refused his traditional rights and instead opened the Palace to visitors, allowing the once-exclusive rooms to be viewed by us peasants.<sup id="cite_ref-casgan_123-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-casgan-123">[123]</a></sup> Like some other Holy See properties, the castle was used during WWII to hide Jews from the <a href="/wiki/Nazi" class="mw-redirect" title="Nazi">Nazi</a> Holocaust.<sup id="cite_ref-casgan_123-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-casgan-123">[123]</a></sup> Pope John Paul II also made his mark on the Palace by having a swimming pool built there. </p><p>A less ancient addition, the <a href="/wiki/Vatican_Observatory" title="Vatican Observatory">Vatican Observatory</a> operates some telescopes out of the Palace, helping fulfill the Church's longstanding preoccupation with <a href="/wiki/Astronomy" title="Astronomy">astronomy</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-124" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-124">[124]</a></sup> </p> <h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Basilica_of_the_Holy_House">Basilica of the Holy House</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Vatican_City&action=edit&section=38" title="Edit section: Basilica of the Holy House">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h3> <div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width:202px;"><a href="/wiki/File:Basilica_di_Loreto_05.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8c/Basilica_di_Loreto_05.jpg/250px-Basilica_di_Loreto_05.jpg" decoding="async" width="200" height="150" class="thumbimage" srcset="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8c/Basilica_di_Loreto_05.jpg/330px-Basilica_di_Loreto_05.jpg 1.5x, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8c/Basilica_di_Loreto_05.jpg/500px-Basilica_di_Loreto_05.jpg 2x" data-file-width="4000" data-file-height="3000" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a href="/wiki/File:Basilica_di_Loreto_05.jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"></a></div>Mary's holy house. In Italy. Somehow.</div></div></div> <p>Located in Loreto, Italy, this basilica holds what Catholics believe is the original house of the Virgin Mary, where she was born and asked by the Archangel Gabriel to become the Mother of God. But wait, how could Mary's house be in Italy, of all places? Easy. Angels picked it up and flew it over. If you treat that story skeptically, you're a godless heathen and not alone. According to some Catholics, a more recent version of the story holds that the Angeli family looted the house during the <a href="/wiki/Crusades" title="Crusades">Crusades</a>, having the entire structure carted off to Italy.<sup id="cite_ref-125" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-125">[125]</a></sup> This version of events makes much more sense, benefiting from the fact that the Crusaders were real and were also known to shamelessly steal shit from the Holy Land. </p><p>In 1496, the Church built a basilica around the house, and in 1507 a marble enclosure was added around the house to keep it safe from damage.<sup id="cite_ref-126" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-126">[126]</a></sup> It is, unsurprisingly, a hot attraction for Christian pilgrims and has been for centuries. Catholics believe the Virgin Mary still works miracles for those who pray at the house. </p><p>There are also regular processions where sick and disabled people receive blessings and graces in the presence of the Virgin Mary's house.<sup id="cite_ref-127" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-127">[127]</a></sup> We here at RationalWiki might receive some flak for saying that you should probably get medical attention for your problems instead. </p> <h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Map">Map</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Vatican_City&action=edit&section=39" title="Edit section: Map">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h2> <div class="center"><div class="thumb tnone"><div class="thumbinner" style="width:802px;"><a href="/wiki/File:Vatican_City_map_EN.png" class="image"><img alt="" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/15/Vatican_City_map_EN.png/800px-Vatican_City_map_EN.png" decoding="async" width="800" height="618" class="thumbimage" srcset="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/15/Vatican_City_map_EN.png/1200px-Vatican_City_map_EN.png 1.5x, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/15/Vatican_City_map_EN.png/1600px-Vatican_City_map_EN.png 2x" data-file-width="2888" data-file-height="2230" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a href="/wiki/File:Vatican_City_map_EN.png" class="internal" title="Enlarge"></a></div>Map of the Vatican City.</div></div></div></div> <p><br /> </p> <h2><span class="mw-headline" id="See_also">See also</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Vatican_City&action=edit&section=40" title="Edit section: See also">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h2> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Vatican_website" title="Vatican website">Vatican website</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Jerusalem" title="Jerusalem">Jerusalem</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mecca" title="Mecca">Mecca</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Medina" title="Medina">Medina</a></li></ul> <h2><span class="mw-headline" id="External_links">External links</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Vatican_City&action=edit&section=41" title="Edit section: External links">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h2> <ul><li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://digi.vatlib.it/">DigiVatLib, the digitization project of the Vatican Library</a>. Digitized works are available to be viewed through this link.</li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNTsWFMLW-U">Why is the Vatican an Independent Country?</a> a short video by <i>History Matters</i> on <a href="/wiki/Youtube" class="mw-redirect" title="Youtube">Youtube</a>.</li></ul> <h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Virtual_tours">Virtual tours</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Vatican_City&action=edit&section=42" title="Edit section: Virtual tours">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h3> <ul><li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.vatican.va/various/cappelle/sistina_vr/index.html">360° tour of the Sistine Chapel</a>.</li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.vatican.va/various/basiliche/san_pietro/vr_tour/Media/VR/St_Peter_Altar/index.html">360° tour of the central main floor of St. Peter's Basilica</a>.</li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.museivaticani.va/content/museivaticani/en/collezioni/musei/stanze-di-raffaello/tour-virtuale.html">360° tour of the Raphael Rooms</a>.</li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.museivaticani.va/content/museivaticani/en/collezioni/musei/museo-pio-clementino/tour-virtuale.html">360° tour of the Pio Clementino Museum</a>.</li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.museivaticani.va/content/museivaticani/en/collezioni/musei/braccio-nuovo/tour-virtuale.html">360° tour of the Vatican Museum's collection of Classical Roman statuary</a>.</li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.museivaticani.va/content/museivaticani/en/collezioni/musei/cappella-niccolina/tour-virtuale.html">360° tour of the Niccoline Chapel in the Apostolic Palace</a>.</li></ul> <h2><span class="mw-headline" id="References">References</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Vatican_City&action=edit&section=43" title="Edit section: References">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h2> <div class="references-small" style="-moz-column-count:2; -webkit-column-count:2; column-count:2; font-size:80%;"> <div class="mw-references-wrap mw-references-columns"><ol class="references"> <li id="cite_note-1"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-1">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/articles/298236/20120214/baroness-warsi-secularism-faith-vatican.htm?utm_source=google&utm_medium=editorsfeed&utm_content=Baroness%20Warsi%20%27Risks%20Culture%20War%27%20over%20Militant%20Secularism&utm_campaign=Array">'Culture War' over Militant Secularism</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-2"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-2">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/holy-see-vatican-city/">Holy See (Vatican City)</a>. CIA World Factbook.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-3"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-3">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://study.com/academy/answer/is-vatican-city-a-theocracy.html">Is Vatican City a theocracy?</a> <i>Study.com</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-4"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-4">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/what-is-the-difference-between-vatican-city-and-the-holy-see.html">What Is The Difference Between The Vatican City And The Holy See?</a> <i>World Atlas.</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-5"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-5">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.un.org/en/members/nonmembers.shtml">Non-member States and Entities</a>, UN</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-6"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-6">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.alternet.org/world/will-pope-francis-end-vaticans-obstructive-role-un">Will Pope Francis End Vatican's Obstructive Role at U.N.?</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-7"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-7">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.thoughtco.com/the-papal-states-1789449">The Origin and Decline of the Papal States</a>. <i>ThoughtCo.</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-8"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-8">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Papal-States#ref284195">Papal States</a> <i>Britannica</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-9"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-9">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external autonumber" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=y_4eaFsFdI4C&pg=PT155#v=onepage&q&f=false">[1]</a> David I. Kertzer, <i>Prisoner of the Vatican</i> (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt 2006 ISBN 978-0-54734716-5</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-10"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-10">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text">See the <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia" title="Wikipedia">Wikipedia</a> article on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lateran_Treaty" class="extiw" title="wp:Lateran Treaty" rel="nofollow">Lateran Treaty</a>.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-11"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-11">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://catholicstraightanswers.com/what-does-the-term-holy-see-mean/">What does the term “holy see” mean?</a> <i>Catholic Straight Answers.</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-12"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-12">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text">See the <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia" title="Wikipedia">Wikipedia</a> article on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secretariat_of_State_(Holy_See)" class="extiw" title="wp:Secretariat of State (Holy See)" rel="nofollow">Secretariat of State (Holy See)</a>.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-13"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-13">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text">See the <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia" title="Wikipedia">Wikipedia</a> article on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secretariat_for_the_Economy" class="extiw" title="wp:Secretariat for the Economy" rel="nofollow">Secretariat for the Economy</a>.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-14"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-14">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text">See the <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia" title="Wikipedia">Wikipedia</a> article on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congregation_for_the_Doctrine_of_the_Faith" class="extiw" title="wp:Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith" rel="nofollow">Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith</a>.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-15"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-15">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.ncronline.org/blogs/faith-and-justice/vaticans-doctrinal-congregation-isnt-so-supreme-anymore">Vatican's doctrinal congregation isn't so supreme anymore</a>. <i>National Catholic Reporter.</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-16"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-16">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text">See the <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia" title="Wikipedia">Wikipedia</a> article on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congregation_for_the_Oriental_Churches" class="extiw" title="wp:Congregation for the Oriental Churches" rel="nofollow">Congregation for the Oriental Churches</a>.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-17"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-17">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text">See the <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia" title="Wikipedia">Wikipedia</a> article on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congregation_for_the_Causes_of_Saints" class="extiw" title="wp:Congregation for the Causes of Saints" rel="nofollow">Congregation for the Causes of Saints</a>.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-18"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-18">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2019/12/08/pope-francis-appoints-cardinal-tagle-head-congregation-evangelization-peoples">Pope Francis appoints Cardinal Tagle to head Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples</a>. <i>Jesuit Review.</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-19"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-19">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.ncronline.org/news/vatican/pope-reconfirms-clergy-congregation-members-appoints-us-born-prelate">Pope reconfirms clergy congregation members, appoints U.S.-born prelate</a>. <i>National Catholic Reporter.</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-20"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-20">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text">See the <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia" title="Wikipedia">Wikipedia</a> article on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congregation_for_Catholic_Education" class="extiw" title="wp:Congregation for Catholic Education" rel="nofollow">Congregation for Catholic Education</a>.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-21"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-21">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text">See the <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia" title="Wikipedia">Wikipedia</a> article on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supreme_Tribunal_of_the_Apostolic_Penitentiary" class="extiw" title="wp:Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Penitentiary" rel="nofollow">Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Penitentiary</a>.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-inths-22"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-inths_22-0">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.e-ir.info/2013/09/24/the-nature-and-role-of-the-catholic-church-and-the-holy-see-in-the-international-order/">The Nature and Role of the Catholic Church and the Holy See in the International Order</a>. <i>E-International Relations.</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-23"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-23">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://va.usembassy.gov/embassy/holy-see/">U.S. Embassy to the Holy See</a>. US State Department.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-24"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-24">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/analysis-the-vatican-and-china-part-iii-taiwan-87202">Analysis: The Vatican and China Part III, Taiwan</a>. <i>Catholic News Agency.</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-sguard-25"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">↑ <sup><a href="#cite_ref-sguard_25-0">25.0</a></sup> <sup><a href="#cite_ref-sguard_25-1">25.1</a></sup></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Swiss-Guards">Swiss Guards</a>. <i>Britannica.</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-26"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-26">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.warhistoryonline.com/history/3-extremely-heroic-last-stands-military-history-youve-never-heard-off.html">3 Extremely Heroic Last Stands in Military History You’ve Never Heard Of</a>. <i>War History Online.</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-27"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-27">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://cnsnews.com/news/article/pope-francis-masonic-lobbies-most-serious-problem-me">Pope Francis: ‘Masonic Lobbies … This Is The Most Serious Problem for Me’</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-28"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-28">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/commentandblogs/2013/07/30/most-of-us-would-laugh-at-the-idea-of-a-masonic-mafia-at-work-in-the-vatican-im-not-sure-that-we-should/">Most of us would laugh at the idea of a masonic mafia at work in the Vatican.</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-29"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-29">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.cruxnow.com/church/2016/01/15/decoding-what-it-means-to-say-the-vatican-has-a-gay-lobby/">Decoding what it means to say the Vatican has a ‘gay lobby’</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-vatgov-30"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">↑ <sup><a href="#cite_ref-vatgov_30-0">30.0</a></sup> <sup><a href="#cite_ref-vatgov_30-1">30.1</a></sup></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://vatican.com/The-Vaticans-government/">The Vatican's government</a>. <i>Vatican.com</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-31"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-31">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text">See the <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia" title="Wikipedia">Wikipedia</a> article on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corps_of_Gendarmerie_of_Vatican_City" class="extiw" title="wp:Corps of Gendarmerie of Vatican City" rel="nofollow">Corps of Gendarmerie of Vatican City</a>.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-32"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-32">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/shortcuts/2014/feb/25/why-does-the-vatican-drink-so-much-wine">Why does the Vatican drink so much wine?</a> <i>The Guardian.</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-33"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-33">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text">Miller, Anne; Mitchinson, John (14 March 2013). "QI: some quite interesting facts about Popes". <i>The Daily Telegraph</i>. ISSN 0307-1235.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-34"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-34">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text">See the <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia" title="Wikipedia">Wikipedia</a> article on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transport_in_Vatican_City" class="extiw" title="wp:Transport in Vatican City" rel="nofollow">Transport in Vatican City</a>.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-35"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-35">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://vatican.com/The-Vaticans-Population/">The Population of the Vatican</a>. <i>Vatican.com</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-36"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-36">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text">See the <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia" title="Wikipedia">Wikipedia</a> article on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magdalena_Woli%C5%84ska-Riedi" class="extiw" title="wp:Magdalena Wolińska-Riedi" rel="nofollow">Magdalena Wolińska-Riedi</a>.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-37"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-37">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.vaticancitytours.it/blog/how-many-people-live-in-vatican-city/">How many people live in Vatican City?</a> <i>Sightseeing Tours Italy.</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-38"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-38">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text">See the <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia" title="Wikipedia">Wikipedia</a> article on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vatican_and_Holy_See_passports" class="extiw" title="wp:Vatican and Holy See passports" rel="nofollow">Vatican and Holy See passports</a>.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-39"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-39">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text">Duursma, Jorri C. (1996). Fragmentation and the International Relations of Micro-states: Self-determination and Statehood. Cambridge University Press. p. 396. ISBN 9780521563604.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-40"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-40">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100710054455/https://www.vaticanstate.va/EN/State_and_Government/Internationalrelations/Participation_with_international_Organizations.htm">Participation in International Organizations</a>. Archived.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-41"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-41">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.interpol.int/en/Who-we-are/Member-countries/Europe/VATICAN-CITY-STATE">Vatican City State</a>. Interpol.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-42"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-42">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text">See the <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia" title="Wikipedia">Wikipedia</a> article on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vatican_City#Crime" class="extiw" title="wp:Vatican City" rel="nofollow">Vatican City § Crime</a>.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-43"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-43">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/2639777.stm">Vatican crime rate 'soars'</a>. <i>BBC News.</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-crimpro-44"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">↑ <sup><a href="#cite_ref-crimpro_44-0">44.0</a></sup> <sup><a href="#cite_ref-crimpro_44-1">44.1</a></sup> <sup><a href="#cite_ref-crimpro_44-2">44.2</a></sup> <sup><a href="#cite_ref-crimpro_44-3">44.3</a></sup></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2012/05/paolo-gabriele-case-how-does-the-vatican-deal-with-criminals.html">How Does Vatican City Deal With Criminals?</a> <i>Slate.</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-45"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-45">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text">See the <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia" title="Wikipedia">Wikipedia</a> article on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Institute_for_the_Works_of_Religion" class="extiw" title="wp:Institute for the Works of Religion" rel="nofollow">Institute for the Works of Religion</a>.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-cnnmo-46"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">↑ <sup><a href="#cite_ref-cnnmo_46-0">46.0</a></sup> <sup><a href="#cite_ref-cnnmo_46-1">46.1</a></sup> <sup><a href="#cite_ref-cnnmo_46-2">46.2</a></sup></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://money.cnn.com/2013/07/12/news/world/vatican-bank-scandal/index.html?iid=EL">Vatican may widen bank corruption probe</a>. <i>CNN.</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-47"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-47">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://money.cnn.com/2015/09/24/news/pope-francis-visit-vatican-catholic-church/index.html">Vatican Inc.: 5 facts about the business of the Catholic Church</a>. <i>CNN Money.</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-48"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-48">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.americamagazine.org/issue/culture/follow-money">Follow the Money</a>. <i>America Magazine.</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-49"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-49">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.occrp.org/en/daily/10465-with-new-rules-pope-aims-to-reform-scandal-ridden-vatican-bank">With New Rules, Pope Aims to Reform Scandal-Ridden Vatican Bank</a>. <i>Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project.</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-50"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-50">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,833509,00.html">Roman Catholics: The Vatican's Wealth</a>. <i>TIME Magazine.</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-invest-51"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-invest_51-0">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.investopedia.com/articles/investing/030613/secret-finances-vatican-economy.asp">The Secret Finances of the Vatican Economy</a>. <i>Investopedia.</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-52"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-52">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/with-major-deficits-projected-vatican-says-holy-see-not-at-risk-of-default-60364">With major deficits projected, Vatican says Holy See not at risk of default</a>. <i>Catholic News Agency.</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-53"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-53">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://money.cnn.com/2014/10/20/news/companies/porsche-sistine-chapel/?iid=EL">Porsche rents Sistine Chapel for Pope's charity</a>. <i>CNN Business.</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-54"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-54">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text">See the <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia" title="Wikipedia">Wikipedia</a> article on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Vatican_City" class="extiw" title="wp:Economy of Vatican City" rel="nofollow">Economy of Vatican City</a>.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-55"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-55">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text">See the <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia" title="Wikipedia">Wikipedia</a> article on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vatican_euro_coins" class="extiw" title="wp:Vatican euro coins" rel="nofollow">Vatican euro coins</a>.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-56"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-56">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.rome-museum.com/st-peters-basilica.php">St. Peter's Basilica</a>. <i>Rome Museum.</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-57"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-57">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.walksofitaly.com/blog/art-culture/st-peters-basilica-facts">6 Surprising Facts About St. Peter’s Basilica</a>. <i>Walks of Italy.</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-58"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-58">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text">See the <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia" title="Wikipedia">Wikipedia</a> article on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piet%C3%A0_(Michelangelo)" class="extiw" title="wp:Pietà (Michelangelo)" rel="nofollow">Pietà (Michelangelo)</a>.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-59"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-59">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.frommers.com/destinations/rome/attractions/st-peters-basilica">St. Peter’s Basilica</a>. <i>Frommer's</i>.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-60"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-60">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text">See the <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia" title="Wikipedia">Wikipedia</a> article on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chair_of_Saint_Peter" class="extiw" title="wp:Chair of Saint Peter" rel="nofollow">Chair of Saint Peter</a>.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-61"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-61">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.ncregister.com/blog/9-things-you-need-to-know-about-the-chair-of-st-peter">9 things you need to know about the "Chair of St. Peter"</a>. <i>National Catholic Register.</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-62"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-62">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03551e.htm">Chair of Peter</a>. <i>New Advent.</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-63"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-63">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text">See the <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia" title="Wikipedia">Wikipedia</a> article on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chair_of_Saint_Peter" class="extiw" title="wp:Chair of Saint Peter" rel="nofollow">Chair of Saint Peter</a>.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-64"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-64">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://blogs.cuit.columbia.edu/deb2170/the-apse-of-st-peters-basilica/">The Apse of St. Peter's Basilica.</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-vnecr-65"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">↑ <sup><a href="#cite_ref-vnecr_65-0">65.0</a></sup> <sup><a href="#cite_ref-vnecr_65-1">65.1</a></sup></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://vatican.com/Vatican-Necropolis/">Vatican Necropolis</a>. <i>Vatican.com</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-66"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-66">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://vatican.com/Vatican-Grottoes/">Vatican Grottoes</a>. <i>Vatican.com</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-basqu-67"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-basqu_67-0">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.vaticancitytours.it/attractions/st-peters-square/">St. Peter's Square, Vatican City</a>.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-68"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-68">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://archaeology-travel.com/street/vatican-obelisk-in-st-peters-square/">Amidst The Crowds In St Peter’s Square, Stands Ancient Egypt</a>. <i>Archaeology Travel.</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-69"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-69">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://selectitaly.com/blog/rome/5-tips-stpeter-square/">5 Tips For Major Events In St Peter’s Square</a>. <i>Select Italy.</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-70"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-70">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.romewise.com/see-the-pope-in-rome.html">How to See the Pope in Rome</a>. <i>Rome Wise.</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-pbath-71"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">↑ <sup><a href="#cite_ref-pbath_71-0">71.0</a></sup> <sup><a href="#cite_ref-pbath_71-1">71.1</a></sup></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.maryjogibson.com/the-secret-vatican-bathroom-stufetta-del-bibbiena/">The Secret Vatican Bathroom- Stufetta del Bibbiena</a>. Mary Jo Gibson.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-72"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-72">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-21949118">Pope Francis shuns grand apartment for two rooms</a>. <i>BBC News.</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-73"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-73">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.ncronline.org/news/vatican/pope-francis-live-vatican-guesthouse-not-papal-apartments">Pope Francis to live in Vatican guesthouse, not papal apartments</a>. <i>National Catholic Review.</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-74"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-74">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.historytoday.com/history-matters/were-borgias-really-so-bad">Were the Borgias Really so Bad?</a> <i>History Today.</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-borg-75"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">↑ <sup><a href="#cite_ref-borg_75-0">75.0</a></sup> <sup><a href="#cite_ref-borg_75-1">75.1</a></sup></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://theromanguy.com/italy-travel-blog/guide-to-the-borgia-apartments-in-the-vatican/">Guide To The Borgia Apartments In The Vatican</a>. <i>The Roman Guy.</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-76"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-76">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2013/05/05/180860991/long-hidden-vatican-painting-linked-to-native-americans">Long Hidden, Vatican Painting Linked To Native Americans</a>. <i>NPR.</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-mjborg-77"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">↑ <sup><a href="#cite_ref-mjborg_77-0">77.0</a></sup> <sup><a href="#cite_ref-mjborg_77-1">77.1</a></sup></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.maryjogibson.com/the-secret-borgia-apartments/">The Secret Borgia Apartments</a>. Mary Jo Gibson.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-78"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-78">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text">See the <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia" title="Wikipedia">Wikipedia</a> article on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raphael_Rooms" class="extiw" title="wp:Raphael Rooms" rel="nofollow">Raphael Rooms</a>.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-79"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-79">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text">See the <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia" title="Wikipedia">Wikipedia</a> article on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_School_of_Athens" class="extiw" title="wp:The School of Athens" rel="nofollow">The School of Athens</a>.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-80"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-80">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.museumsrome.com/en/our-blog-on-rome/the-raphael-s-rooms-in-the-vatican-museums">The Raphael's Rooms in the Vatican Museums</a>. <i>Italy Travels.</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-81"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-81">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text">See the <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia" title="Wikipedia">Wikipedia</a> article on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stufetta_del_cardinal_Bibbiena" class="extiw" title="wp:Stufetta del cardinal Bibbiena" rel="nofollow">Stufetta del cardinal Bibbiena</a>.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-82"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-82">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://slate.com/human-interest/2011/12/vatican-inside-the-secret-city-vatican-guide-the-pope-s-pornographic-bathroom.html">Vatican guide: The pope’s pornographic bathroom</a>. <i>Slate.</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-sisb-83"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">↑ <sup><a href="#cite_ref-sisb_83-0">83.0</a></sup> <sup><a href="#cite_ref-sisb_83-1">83.1</a></sup></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Sistine-Chapel">Sistine Chapel</a>. <i>Britannica.</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-84"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-84">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text">See the <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia" title="Wikipedia">Wikipedia</a> article on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Creation_of_Adam" class="extiw" title="wp:The Creation of Adam" rel="nofollow">The Creation of Adam</a>.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-85"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-85">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text">See the <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia" title="Wikipedia">Wikipedia</a> article on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Creation_of_the_Sun,_Moon,_and_Plants" class="extiw" title="wp:The Creation of the Sun, Moon, and Plants" rel="nofollow">The Creation of the Sun, Moon, and Plants</a>.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-sismick-86"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">↑ <sup><a href="#cite_ref-sismick_86-0">86.0</a></sup> <sup><a href="#cite_ref-sismick_86-1">86.1</a></sup></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.througheternity.com/en/blog/art/nudity-and-controversy-in-the-sistine-chapel.html#">Nudity and Controversy in the Sistine Chapel</a>. <i>Thought Eternity.</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-87"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-87">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.thegeographicalcure.com/post/underpants-in-the-sistine-chapel">Underpants in the Sistine Chapel: Was Michelangelo's Last Judgment Fresco Too Risque?</a> <i>The Geographical Cure.</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-88"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-88">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.livescience.com/40802-sistine-chapel.html">Sistine Chapel: Facts, History & Visitor Information</a>. <i>Live Science.</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-mus7-89"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-mus7_89-0">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://civitavecchia.portmobility.it/en/7-things-see-vatican-museums">7 unmissable reasons to visit the Vatican Museums</a>. <i>Civitavecchia.</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-90"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-90">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.museivaticani.va/content/museivaticani/en/collezioni/musei/la-pinacoteca/la-pinacoteca.html">Pinacoteca</a>. Musei Vaticani.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-91"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-91">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text">See the <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia" title="Wikipedia">Wikipedia</a> article on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Augustus_of_Prima_Porta" class="extiw" title="wp:Augustus of Prima Porta" rel="nofollow">Augustus of Prima Porta</a>.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-92"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-92">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.museivaticani.va/content/museivaticani/en/collezioni/musei/museo-gregoriano-egizio/museo-gregoriano-egizio.html">Gregorian Egyptian Museum</a>. Musei Vaticani.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-93"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-93">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text">See the <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia" title="Wikipedia">Wikipedia</a> article on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vatican_Library" class="extiw" title="wp:Vatican Library" rel="nofollow">Vatican Library</a>.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-94"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-94">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://aleteia.org/2019/08/17/in-case-you-didnt-know-the-vatican-library-has-been-digitized-and-is-online/">The Vatican Library has been online for years, and you can access it here</a>. <i>Aleteia.</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-95"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-95">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Vatican-Apostolic-Library">Vatican Apostolic Library</a>. <i>Britannica.</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-vatican-96"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">↑ <sup><a href="#cite_ref-vatican_96-0">96.0</a></sup> <sup><a href="#cite_ref-vatican_96-1">96.1</a></sup></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.cruxnow.com/church/2014/09/01/whats-hidden-in-the-vatican-archives/">What’s hidden in the Vatican Secret Archives?</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-97"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-97">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110506021633/http://asv.vatican.va/en/fond/ammiss.htm">TABLE OF THE ADMITTANCES TO THE VATICAN SECRET ARCHIVES IN THE LAST YEARS</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-98"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-98">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.slate.com/articles/life/welltraveled/features/2011/vatican_inside_the_secret_city/vatican_guide_the_wonders_inside_the_legendary_secret_archives.html">The Secret City</a>, Slate.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-99"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-99">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/vaticancityandholysee/7772108/The-Vatican-opens-its-Secret-Archives-to-dispel-Dan-Brown-myths.html">The Vatican opens its Secret Archives to dispel Dan Brown myths</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-aposarc-100"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">↑ <sup><a href="#cite_ref-aposarc_100-0">100.0</a></sup> <sup><a href="#cite_ref-aposarc_100-1">100.1</a></sup></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-pope-archives/secret-no-more-pope-renames-historic-vatican-archives-idUSKBN1X71NA">'Secret' no more: Pope renames historic Vatican archives</a>. <i>Reuters.</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-101"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-101">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2020-03/holy-see-archives-pope-pius-xii-world-war-ii.html">Vatican opens archives on Pope Pius XII</a>. <i>Vatican News.</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-rwgard-102"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">↑ <sup><a href="#cite_ref-rwgard_102-0">102.0</a></sup> <sup><a href="#cite_ref-rwgard_102-1">102.1</a></sup></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.througheternity.com/en/blog/hidden-sights/vatican-gardens-guide.html#">The Pope's Personal Garden of Eden</a>. <i>Through Eternity Tours.</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-103"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-103">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text">See the <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia" title="Wikipedia">Wikipedia</a> article on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gardens_of_Vatican_City" class="extiw" title="wp:Gardens of Vatican City" rel="nofollow">Gardens of Vatican City</a>.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-104"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-104">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.walksinsiderome.com/blog/about-the-vatican/about-the-vatican-top-10-things-to-know-about-the-vatican-gardens/">Top 10 Things To Know About the Vatican Gardens</a>. <i>Walk Inside Rome.</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-105"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-105">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text">See the <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia" title="Wikipedia">Wikipedia</a> article on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domus_Sanctae_Marthae" class="extiw" title="wp:Domus Sanctae Marthae" rel="nofollow">Domus Sanctae Marthae</a>.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-106"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-106">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text">Thavis, John (2013). <i>The Vatican Diaries: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Power, Personalities and Politics at the Heart of the Catholic Church</i>. New York City: Viking. pp. 121–2. ISBN 978-0-670-02671-5.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-107"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-107">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/domus-sanctae-marthae">Domus Sanctae Marthae</a>. <i>Atlas Obscura.</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-lsvwal-108"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">↑ <sup><a href="#cite_ref-lsvwal_108-0">108.0</a></sup> <sup><a href="#cite_ref-lsvwal_108-1">108.1</a></sup></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.livescience.com/64410-vatican-city-walls-explained.html">Trump Calls Wall 'Moral' Because Vatican Has One. So What's Its History?</a> <i>Live Science.</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-109"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-109">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.mcall.com/opinion/mc-opi-border-walls-mexico-history-berlin-china-20190104-story.html">Walls through history: 9 ranked by length</a>. <i>The Morning Call.</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-110"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-110">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://bestlifeonline.com/vatican-walls/">Why Are There Walls Around the Vatican?</a> <i>Best Life.</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-111"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-111">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/vatican-city-walls">Vatican City Walls</a>. <i>Atlas Obscura.</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-112"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-112">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.cnn.com/2016/02/18/world/vatican-walls">Is the Vatican really surrounded by walls?</a> <i>CNN.</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-113"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-113">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text">See the <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia" title="Wikipedia">Wikipedia</a> article on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Properties_of_the_Holy_See" class="extiw" title="wp:Properties of the Holy See" rel="nofollow">Properties of the Holy See</a>.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-jlat-114"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">↑ <sup><a href="#cite_ref-jlat_114-0">114.0</a></sup> <sup><a href="#cite_ref-jlat_114-1">114.1</a></sup></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.rome.net/basilica-st-john-lateran">Basilica of St. John Lateran</a>. <i>Rome.net</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-115"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-115">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text">Marchione, Margherita. <i>Yours Is a Precious Witness: Memoirs of Jews and Catholics in Wartime Italy</i>, Paulist Press, 2001 ISBN 9780809140329</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-116"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-116">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://righteous.yadvashem.org/?searchType=righteous_only&language=en&itemId=4043709&ind=NaN">Palazzini Pietro</a>. The Righteous Among the Nations Database. Yad Vashem.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-cmswr-117"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">↑ <sup><a href="#cite_ref-cmswr_117-0">117.0</a></sup> <sup><a href="#cite_ref-cmswr_117-1">117.1</a></sup> <sup><a href="#cite_ref-cmswr_117-2">117.2</a></sup></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://cmswr.org/basilica-of-saint-john-lateran/">Basilica of Saint John Lateran</a>. <i>Council of Major Superiors of Women Religious.</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-scalsanc-118"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">↑ <sup><a href="#cite_ref-scalsanc_118-0">118.0</a></sup> <sup><a href="#cite_ref-scalsanc_118-1">118.1</a></sup></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://anamericaninrome.com/wp/2017/02/holy-stairs-scala-santa-rome/">Holy Stairs: Scala Sancta in Rome</a>. <i>American in Rome.</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-119"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-119">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text">See the <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia" title="Wikipedia">Wikipedia</a> article on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scala_Sancta" class="extiw" title="wp:Scala Sancta" rel="nofollow">Scala Sancta</a>.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-120"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-120">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text">See the <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia" title="Wikipedia">Wikipedia</a> article on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sancta_Sanctorum_(Lateran,_Rome)" class="extiw" title="wp:Sancta Sanctorum (Lateran, Rome)" rel="nofollow">Sancta Sanctorum (Lateran, Rome)</a>.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-121"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-121">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.italianways.com/sancta-sanctorum-romes-true-colors/">Sancta Sanctorum: Rome's True Colors.</a> <i>Italian Ways.</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-122"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-122">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/the-pope/9890227/A-rare-glimpse-inside-the-remote-retreat-Pope-Benedict-XVI-is-soon-to-call-home.html">A rare glimpse inside the remote retreat Pope Benedict XVI is soon to call home</a>. <i>The Telegraph.</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-casgan-123"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">↑ <sup><a href="#cite_ref-casgan_123-0">123.0</a></sup> <sup><a href="#cite_ref-casgan_123-1">123.1</a></sup></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/castel-gandolfo-pope-apartments-vatican-museums/index.html">Pope opens private summer residence to visitors</a>. <i>CNN.</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-124"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-124">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text">See the <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia" title="Wikipedia">Wikipedia</a> article on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vatican_Observatory" class="extiw" title="wp:Vatican Observatory" rel="nofollow">Vatican Observatory</a>.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-125"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-125">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/did-angels-really-carry-the-holy-house-of-mary-to-loreto-italy-25088">Did angels really carry the Holy House of Mary to Loreto, Italy?</a> <i>Catholic News Agency.</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-126"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-126">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.sacred-destinations.com/italy/loreto-holy-house">Holy House of Loreto</a>. <i>Sacred Destinations.</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-127"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-127">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://thecatholictravelguide.com/destinations/italy/loreto-italy-holy-house-loreto-home-jesus-mary-joseph/">Loreto, Italy: Sanctuary of The Holy House……Home of Jesus, Mary & Joseph</a>. <i>The Catholic Travel Guide</i>.</span> </li> </ol></div></div> <div role="navigation" aria-labelledby="Nations_of_the_world-navigationbox" class="toccolours" style="clear:both; margin:0.5em 3.5%; text-align:center;"> <div style="margin:0.15em; padding:0.1em; background:#ccccff; font-weight:bold;"><span id="Nations_of_the_world-navigationbox"><a href="/wiki/Nation" title="Nation">Nations</a> of the world</span> </div> <div class="hlist" style="font-size: 90%; margin: 0.15em 1.425em;"><span style="float:left;"><big><a href="/wiki/Africa" title="Africa"><b>Africa</b></a>:</big></span><a href="/wiki/Algeria" title="Algeria">Algeria</a> — <a href="/wiki/Democratic_Republic_of_the_Congo" title="Democratic Republic of the Congo">Democratic Republic of the Congo</a> — <a href="/wiki/Egypt" title="Egypt">Egypt</a> — <a href="/wiki/Eritrea" title="Eritrea">Eritrea</a> — <a href="/wiki/ESwatini" title="ESwatini">eSwatini</a> — <a href="/wiki/Ethiopia" title="Ethiopia">Ethiopia</a> — <a href="/wiki/Guinea" title="Guinea">Guinea</a> — <a href="/wiki/Kenya" title="Kenya">Kenya</a> — <a href="/wiki/Liberia" title="Liberia">Liberia</a> — <a href="/wiki/Libya" title="Libya">Libya</a> — <a href="/wiki/Mali" title="Mali">Mali</a> — <a href="/wiki/Nigeria" title="Nigeria">Nigeria</a> — <a href="/wiki/Somalia" title="Somalia">Somalia</a> — <a href="/wiki/South_Africa" title="South Africa">South Africa</a> — <a href="/wiki/Sudan" title="Sudan">Sudan</a> — <a href="/wiki/Togo" title="Togo">Togo</a> — <a href="/wiki/Uganda" title="Uganda">Uganda</a> — <a href="/wiki/Zimbabwe" title="Zimbabwe">Zimbabwe</a> <p><span style="float:left;"><big><a href="/wiki/Asia" title="Asia"><b>Asia</b></a>:</big></span> <a href="/wiki/Afghanistan" title="Afghanistan">Afghanistan</a> — <a href="/wiki/Armenia" title="Armenia">Armenia</a> — <a href="/wiki/Azerbaijan" title="Azerbaijan">Azerbaijan</a> — <a href="/wiki/Bahrain" title="Bahrain">Bahrain</a> — <a href="/wiki/Bangladesh" title="Bangladesh">Bangladesh</a> — <a href="/wiki/Brunei" title="Brunei">Brunei</a> — <a href="/wiki/Burma" title="Burma">Burma</a> — <a href="/wiki/Cambodia" title="Cambodia">Cambodia</a> — <a href="/wiki/China" title="China">China</a> — <a href="/wiki/Cyprus" title="Cyprus">Cyprus</a> — <a href="/wiki/Egypt" title="Egypt">Egypt</a> — <a href="/wiki/Georgia_(country)" title="Georgia (country)">Georgia</a> — <a href="/wiki/India" title="India">India</a> — <a href="/wiki/Indonesia" title="Indonesia">Indonesia</a> — <a href="/wiki/Iran" title="Iran">Iran</a> — <a href="/wiki/Iraq" title="Iraq">Iraq</a> — <a href="/wiki/Israel" title="Israel">Israel</a> — <a href="/wiki/Japan" title="Japan">Japan</a> — <a href="/wiki/Jordan" title="Jordan">Jordan</a> — <a href="/wiki/Kazakhstan" title="Kazakhstan">Kazakhstan</a> — <a href="/wiki/Kuwait" title="Kuwait">Kuwait</a> — <a href="/wiki/Kyrgyzstan" title="Kyrgyzstan">Kyrgyzstan</a> — <a href="/wiki/Laos" title="Laos">Laos</a> — <a href="/wiki/Lebanon" title="Lebanon">Lebanon</a> — <a href="/wiki/Malaysia" title="Malaysia">Malaysia</a> — <a href="/wiki/Maldives" title="Maldives">Maldives</a> — <a href="/wiki/Mongolia" title="Mongolia">Mongolia</a> — <a href="/wiki/Nepal" title="Nepal">Nepal</a> — <a href="/wiki/North_Korea" title="North Korea">North Korea</a> — <a href="/wiki/Oman" title="Oman">Oman</a> — <a href="/wiki/Pakistan" title="Pakistan">Pakistan</a> — <a href="/wiki/Palestine" title="Palestine">Palestine</a> — <a href="/wiki/Philippines" title="Philippines">Philippines</a> — <a href="/wiki/Qatar" title="Qatar">Qatar</a> — <a href="/wiki/Russia" title="Russia">Russia</a> — <a href="/wiki/Saudi_Arabia" title="Saudi Arabia">Saudi Arabia</a> — <a href="/wiki/Singapore" title="Singapore">Singapore</a> — <a href="/wiki/South_Korea" title="South Korea">South Korea</a> — <a href="/wiki/Syria" title="Syria">Syria</a> — <a href="/wiki/Tajikistan" title="Tajikistan">Tajikistan</a> — <a href="/wiki/Thailand" title="Thailand">Thailand</a> — <a href="/wiki/Timor-Leste" title="Timor-Leste">Timor-Leste</a> — <a href="/wiki/Turkey" title="Turkey">Turkey</a> — <a href="/wiki/Turkmenistan" title="Turkmenistan">Turkmenistan</a> — <a href="/wiki/United_Arab_Emirates" title="United Arab Emirates">United Arab Emirates</a> — <a href="/wiki/Uzbekistan" title="Uzbekistan">Uzbekistan</a> — <a href="/wiki/Vietnam" title="Vietnam">Vietnam</a> — <a href="/wiki/Yemen" title="Yemen">Yemen</a> <br /> </p><p><span style="float:left;"><big><a href="/wiki/Europe" title="Europe"><b>Europe</b></a>:</big></span> <a href="/wiki/Albania" title="Albania">Albania</a> — <a href="/wiki/Austria" title="Austria">Austria</a> — <a href="/wiki/Belarus" title="Belarus">Belarus</a> — <a href="/wiki/Belgium" title="Belgium">Belgium</a> — <a href="/wiki/Bosnia_and_Herzegovina" title="Bosnia and Herzegovina">Bosnia and Herzegovina</a> — <a href="/wiki/Bulgaria" title="Bulgaria">Bulgaria</a> — <a href="/wiki/Channel_Islands" title="Channel Islands">Channel Islands</a> — <a href="/wiki/Croatia" title="Croatia">Croatia</a> — <a href="/wiki/Cyprus" title="Cyprus">Cyprus</a> — <a href="/wiki/Czechia" title="Czechia">Czechia</a> — <a href="/wiki/Denmark" title="Denmark">Denmark</a> — <a href="/wiki/Estonia" title="Estonia">Estonia</a> — <a href="/wiki/Finland" title="Finland">Finland</a> — <a href="/wiki/France" title="France">France</a> — <a href="/wiki/Germany" title="Germany">Germany</a> — <a href="/wiki/Greece" title="Greece">Greece</a> — <a href="/wiki/Hungary" title="Hungary">Hungary</a> — <a href="/wiki/Iceland" title="Iceland">Iceland</a> — <a href="/wiki/Ireland" title="Ireland">Ireland</a> — <a href="/wiki/Isle_of_Man" title="Isle of Man">Isle of Man</a> — <a href="/wiki/Italy" title="Italy">Italy</a> — <a href="/wiki/Latvia" title="Latvia">Latvia</a> — <a href="/wiki/Lithuania" title="Lithuania">Lithuania</a> — <a href="/wiki/Moldova" title="Moldova">Moldova</a> — <a href="/wiki/Netherlands" title="Netherlands">Netherlands</a> — <a href="/wiki/North_Macedonia" title="North Macedonia">North Macedonia</a> — <a href="/wiki/Norway" title="Norway">Norway</a> — <a href="/wiki/Poland" title="Poland">Poland</a> — <a href="/wiki/Portugal" title="Portugal">Portugal</a> — <a href="/wiki/Romania" title="Romania">Romania</a> — <a href="/wiki/Russia" title="Russia">Russia</a> — <a href="/wiki/Serbia" title="Serbia">Serbia</a> — <a href="/wiki/Slovenia" title="Slovenia">Slovenia</a> — <a href="/wiki/Spain" title="Spain">Spain</a> — <a href="/wiki/Sweden" title="Sweden">Sweden</a> — <a href="/wiki/Switzerland" title="Switzerland">Switzerland</a> — <a href="/wiki/Turkey" title="Turkey">Turkey</a> — <a href="/wiki/Ukraine" title="Ukraine">Ukraine</a> — <a href="/wiki/United_Kingdom" title="United Kingdom">United Kingdom</a> (<a href="/wiki/England" title="England">England</a>, <a href="/wiki/Northern_Ireland" title="Northern Ireland">Northern Ireland</a>, <a href="/wiki/Scotland" title="Scotland">Scotland</a>, <a href="/wiki/Wales" title="Wales">Wales</a>) — <a class="mw-selflink selflink">Vatican City</a> <br /> </p><p><span style="float:left;"><big><a href="/wiki/North_America" title="North America"><b>North America</b></a>:</big></span> <a href="/wiki/Canada" title="Canada">Canada</a> — <a href="/wiki/Costa_Rica" title="Costa Rica">Costa Rica</a> — <a href="/wiki/Cuba" title="Cuba">Cuba</a> — <a href="/wiki/El_Salvador" title="El Salvador">El Salvador</a> — <a href="/wiki/Grenada" title="Grenada">Grenada</a> — <a href="/wiki/Haiti" title="Haiti">Haiti</a> — <a href="/wiki/Jamaica" title="Jamaica">Jamaica</a> — <a href="/wiki/Mexico" title="Mexico">Mexico</a> — <a href="/wiki/Nicaragua" title="Nicaragua">Nicaragua</a> — <a href="/wiki/Panama" title="Panama">Panama</a> — <a href="/wiki/United_States" title="United States">United States</a> (<a href="/wiki/Puerto_Rico" class="mw-redirect" title="Puerto Rico">Puerto Rico</a>) <br /> </p><p><span style="float:left;"><big><a href="/wiki/Oceania" title="Oceania"><b>Oceania</b></a>:</big></span> <a href="/wiki/Australia" title="Australia">Australia</a> — <a href="/wiki/Kiribati" title="Kiribati">Kiribati</a> — <a href="/wiki/Nauru" title="Nauru">Nauru</a> — <a href="/wiki/New_Zealand" title="New Zealand">New Zealand</a> — <a href="/wiki/Papua_New_Guinea" title="Papua New Guinea">Papua New Guinea</a> — <a href="/wiki/Pitcairn_Islands" title="Pitcairn Islands">Pitcairn Islands</a> <br /> </p><p><span style="float:left;"><big><a href="/wiki/South_America" title="South America"><b>South America</b></a>:</big></span><a href="/wiki/Argentina" title="Argentina">Argentina</a> — <a href="/wiki/Bolivia" title="Bolivia">Bolivia</a> — <a href="/wiki/Brazil" title="Brazil">Brazil</a> — <a href="/wiki/Chile" title="Chile">Chile</a> (<a href="/wiki/Rapa_Nui" title="Rapa Nui">Rapa Nui</a>) — <a href="/wiki/Colombia" title="Colombia">Colombia</a> — <a href="/wiki/Ecuador" title="Ecuador">Ecuador</a> — <a href="/wiki/Falkland_Islands" title="Falkland Islands">Falkland Islands</a> (<a href="/wiki/Falkland_Islands" title="Falkland Islands"><small>Malvinas</small></a>)— <a href="/wiki/Paraguay" title="Paraguay">Paraguay</a> — <a href="/wiki/Peru" title="Peru">Peru</a> — <a href="/wiki/Uruguay" title="Uruguay">Uruguay</a> — <a href="/wiki/Venezuela" title="Venezuela">Venezuela</a> <br /> </p><p><span style="float:left;"><big><b>Separatist or disputed</b>:</big></span><a href="/wiki/Abkhazia" title="Abkhazia">Abkhazia</a> —<a href="/wiki/Catalonia" title="Catalonia">Catalonia</a> — <a href="/wiki/Greenland" title="Greenland">Greenland</a> — <a href="/wiki/Kashmir" title="Kashmir">Kashmir</a> — <a href="/wiki/Kosovo" title="Kosovo">Kosovo</a> — <a href="/wiki/Kurdistan" title="Kurdistan">Kurdistan</a> — <a href="/wiki/Micronation" title="Micronation">Micronation</a> — <a href="/wiki/Northern_Cyprus" title="Northern Cyprus">Northern Cyprus</a> — <a href="/wiki/Sealand" class="mw-redirect" title="Sealand">Sealand</a> — <a href="/wiki/Somaliland" title="Somaliland">Somaliland</a> — <a href="/wiki/South_Ossetia" title="South Ossetia">South Ossetia</a> — <a href="/wiki/Taiwan" title="Taiwan">Taiwan</a> — <a href="/wiki/Tibet" title="Tibet">Tibet</a> — <a href="/wiki/Transnistria" title="Transnistria">Transnistria</a> — <a href="/wiki/Western_Sahara" title="Western Sahara">Western Sahara</a> </p> <span style="float:left;"><big><b>Historical</b>:</big></span><a href="/wiki/Ancient_Egypt" title="Ancient Egypt">Ancient Egypt</a> — <a href="/wiki/Belgian_Congo" title="Belgian Congo">Belgian Congo</a> — <a href="/wiki/British_Empire" title="British Empire">British Empire</a> — <a href="/wiki/Confederate_States_of_America" title="Confederate States of America">Confederate States of America</a> — <a href="/wiki/East_Germany" title="East Germany">East Germany</a> — <a href="/wiki/French_colonial_empire" title="French colonial empire">French colonial empire</a> — <a href="/wiki/German_Empire" title="German Empire">German Empire</a> — <a href="/wiki/Holy_Roman_Empire" title="Holy Roman Empire">Holy Roman Empire</a> — <a href="/wiki/Imperial_China" title="Imperial China">Imperial China</a> — <a href="/wiki/Kingdom_of_Hawai%CA%BBi" title="Kingdom of Hawaiʻi">Kingdom of Hawaiʻi</a> — <a href="/wiki/Nazi_Germany" title="Nazi Germany">Nazi Germany</a> — <a href="/wiki/Rhodesia" title="Rhodesia">Rhodesia</a> — <a href="/wiki/Roman_Empire" title="Roman Empire">Roman Empire</a> — <a href="/wiki/Soviet_Union" title="Soviet Union">Soviet Union</a> — <a href="/wiki/Vichy_France" title="Vichy France">Vichy France</a> — <a href="/wiki/Yugoslavia" title="Yugoslavia">Yugoslavia</a></div> </div>    </div></div><div 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