Vatican City
From the Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia that anyone can change
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| Motto: None | |||||
| Anthem: Inno e Marcia Pontificale | |||||
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| Capital | Vatican City[1] 41°54′N 12°27′E |
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| Largest city | Vatican City[2] | ||||
| Official languages | Latin[3] | ||||
| Government | ecclesiastical Pope Benedict XVI Tarcisio Cardinal Bertone Giovanni Lajolo |
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| Independence -Treaty signed |
Lateran Treaty 11 February 1929 |
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| Area • Total • Water (%) |
0.44 km² (194th) 0.0 |
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| Population • 2005 est. • Density |
921 (193rd) 2,093/km² (3rd) |
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| Currency | Euro (EUR) |
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| Time zone • Summer (DST) |
CET (UTC+1) CEST (UTC+2) |
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| Internet TLD | .va | ||||
| Calling code | +379 |
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The Vatican City is the smallest country in the world (0.44 km²) and it is an enclave of Italy because it is surrounded by the city of Rome. It was created as country on February 11 1929, with the "Patti Lateranensi" (Lateran Agreement or Treaty), was signed by Benito Mussolini and Pope Pius XI. Though little, it is very important because it is the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church.
The Head of State is the Pope, now Benedict XVI, former cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, elected on April 19 2005, after Pope John Paul II's 26 years of Papacy. It is important also by the side of culture and art: its masterpieces are known by everybody in the world: St. Peter's Square, St. Peter's Basilica, the Sistine Chapel, the Vatican Museums and the Apostolic Palace, where the Pope lives. There are also hundreds of other sculptures and pictures.
[change] History
The Pope used to rule the Papal States. This used to cover all of Central Italy. Popes had always tried to stop Italy becoming one country because they might lose their control of the Papal States. In 1861 Italy was unified under the King of Savoy, but Rome and Latium remained unconquered. Only on September 20 1870 the Italian troops invaded and beat the Papal troops. Rome became capital of the new kingdom.
The Pope said he was a prisoner of the Italian state and excommunicated all the people who helped the people who invaded his state. This stopped Catholics from taking part in public life.
In 1929 Benito Mussolini decided to sign an agreement with the Holy See, called the Lateran Treaty, which created the Vatican State. Another treaty gave the Vatican money each year to compensate for the lost territories.
[change] Gallery
 St. Peter's square, seen from the basilica. |
 The basilica, in early morning |
[change] References
- ↑ 1
- ↑ Vatican City is a city-state
- ↑ Italian is commonly used.
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