Measured by its population and its area of 44 hectares, the Vatican is the smallest independent state in the world. The founding of the state goes back to the signing of the Lateran Treaty on February 11, 1929. Essentially, in the Lateran Treaties, the pope recognizes the city of Rome as the seat of Italian government, while the Italian state guarantees the Vatican’s political and territorial sovereignty. The treaties are named after the place where they were signed, the Lateran Palace.
Around 750 people live in the Vatican, around 450 of whom have Vatican citizenship. The remaining residents have temporary or permanent residence permits for the Vatican.
The head of state in Vatican City is the Pope. He exercises full legislative, executive and judicial power. The pope is elected by the cardinals. The term of office of the pope is usually for life. Pope Benedict XVI is one of the few popes who did not leave office by death. He resigned from office for health reasons and has since been considered Pope Emeritus. He’s a retired pope.
Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica
St. Peter’s Basilica, the Sistine Chapel, the Vatican Museums and the Vatican Gardens are among the most popular sights in the Vatican. They attract millions of tourists every year. St. Peter’s Basilica is the symbol of the Vatican. From the central balcony of the cathedral, the Pope gives the blessing “urbi et orbi” on Easter Sunday and Christmas Day. The foundation stone for the construction of St. Peter’s Basilica was laid on April 18, 1506. During its 120-year construction period, St. Peter’s Basilica went through three stylistic epochs. Renaissance, Mannerism and Baroque.
The dome of St. Peter’s was designed by Michelangelo. The painter also frescoed the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, including his much-reproduced work The Creation of Adam and his depiction of The Last Judgment on the altar wall of the Sistine Chapel. The other walls of the Sistine Chapel were also designed by well-known artists. Access to the Sistine Chapel is through the Vatican Museums. They house one of the largest art collections in the world, consisting mainly of frescoes, paintings, archaeological finds and statues. When a pope dies or resigns, such as Pope Benedict XVI, the conclave, the assembly of cardinals that elects the pope, meets in the Sistine Chapel.
Pope Francis on the mend
While Pope Francis is still recovering in Rome’s Gemelli Clinic, the 86-year-old Church leader, on the advice of his doctors, has for the first time in his tenure held the traditional Angelus prayer in private. The Pope usually prays to the faithful in St. Peter’s Square in Rome from the window of his study in the Apostolic Palace. The Vatican media will broadcast the prayer in sound and vision on TV and the Internet.
This time, due to the Pope’s state of health, no transmission was made. Instead, some believers had gathered in front of the clinic to pray at the same time as Pope Francis. The Pope’s release from the clinic is expected by the end of the week. Until June 18 all audiences were cancelled.
Regarding the state of health of the 86-year-old on the fourth day after his abdominal operation, the doctors treating him said at noon that the pope was still free of fever and his blood values were stable. He started physiotherapy to improve breathing and continued his mobilization.