Holy See: Difference between revisions

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Template:Infobox geopolitical organization

The Holy See^[1]^[2] (Script error: The function "langx" does not exist.,^[3] la-x-church; Script error: The function "langx" does not exist. it), also called the See of Rome, the Petrine See or the Apostolic See,^[4] is the central governing body of the Catholic Church and Vatican City.^[5] It encompasses the office of the pope as the bishop of the apostolic episcopal see of Rome, and serves as the spiritual and administrative authority of the worldwide Catholic Church and Vatican City.^[6] Under international law, the Holy See holds the status of a sovereign juridical entity.^[7]

According to Catholic historical records ^{[citation needed]} and tradition, the Holy See was founded in the first century by Saint Peter and Saint Paul.^{[citation needed]} By virtue of the doctrines of Petrine and papal primacy, it is the focal point of full communion for Catholics around the world.^[8] The Holy See is headquartered in, operates from, and exercises "exclusive dominion" over the Vatican City, an independent city-state enclaved in Rome, where the pope is the elected monarch, and therefore head of state.^[9]

The Holy See is administered by the Roman Curia, which are the central institutions assisting the pope and through which the affairs of the Catholic Church are conducted.^[10]^[11] The Roman Curia includes dicasteries, comparable to ministries or executive departments. The Cardinal Secretary of State is its chief administrator. Papal elections are carried out by members of the College of Cardinals.

Although the Holy See is often metonymically referred to as the "Vatican", the Vatican City State was distinctively established with the Lateran Treaty of 1929, agreed between the Holy See and the Kingdom of Italy, to ensure the temporal, diplomatic, and spiritual independence of the papacy.^[12] As such, papal nuncios, who are papal diplomats to states and international organizations, are recognized as representing the Holy See and not the Vatican City State, as prescribed in the canon law of the Catholic Church. The Holy See is thus viewed as the central government of the Catholic Church and Vatican City.^[11] The Catholic Church is the largest non-government provider of education and health care in the world.^[13]

The Holy See maintains bilateral diplomatic relations with 180 sovereign states, signs concordats and treaties, and performs multilateral diplomacy with multiple intergovernmental organizations, including the United Nations and its agencies, the Council of Europe, the European Communities, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, and the Organization of American States.^[14]^[15]^[16]

Terminology

File:Roma-san giovanni03.jpg

The papal throne (cathedra), in the apse of Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran, symbolises the Holy See.

The word "see" comes from the Latin word sedes, meaning 'seat', which refers to the episcopal throne (cathedra). The term "Apostolic See" can refer to any see founded by one of the Twelve Apostles. When used with the definite article, it is used in the Catholic Church to refer specifically to the see of the Bishop of Rome, whom that Church considers the successor of Saint Peter.^[17] While St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City is perhaps the church most associated with the papacy, the actual cathedral of the Holy See is the Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran in Rome.^{[note 1]}

In the Roman Catholic Church, only the see of the Pope bears the right to be addressed symbolically as "holy".^[18] There was one exception to this rule, represented by the Bishopric of Mainz. During the Holy Roman Empire, the former Archbishopric of Mainz, which was also of electoral and primatial rank, had the privilege to bear the title of "the Holy See of Mainz" (Latin: Sancta Sedes Moguntina).^[19]

History

According to Catholic tradition, the apostolic see of Diocese of Rome was established in the 1st century by Saint Peter and Saint Paul.^{[citation needed]}^{[inconsistent]}

In 313, the legal status of the Catholic Church and its property was recognised by the supposed Edict of Milan, by Roman emperor Constantine the Great. The Donation of Constantine supposedly transferred Western Roman political authority to the Pope, and was widely accepted until it was revealed to be a fraud shortly before the Reformation.

In 380, it became the state church of the Roman Empire via the Edict of Thessalonica, by Emperor Theodosius I. After the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476, the temporal legal jurisdiction of the papal primacy was further recognised as promulgated in Canon law. In 728, the Holy See was granted territory in the Duchy of Rome by the Donation of Sutri by King Liutprand of the Lombards. In 756, it was granted sovereignty by the territorial Donation of Pepin, by King Pepin of the Franks.

From 756 to 1870, the Papal States held extensive territory and armed forces. In 800, Pope Leo III crowned Charlemagne as Roman Emperor by translatio imperii. The Pope's temporal power peaked around the time of the papal coronations of the emperors of the Holy Roman Empire from 858, and the Dictatus papae in 1075, which conversely also described Papal deposing power. Several modern states trace their own sovereignty to recognition in medieval papal bulls. The sovereignty of the Holy See was retained despite multiple sacks of Rome during the Early Middle Ages. Relations with the Kingdom of Italy and the Holy Roman Empire were at times strained, reaching from the Diploma Ottonianum and Libellus de imperatoria potestate in urbe Roma regarding the "Patrimony of Saint Peter" in the 10th century, to the Investiture Controversy in 1076–1122, and settled again by the Concordat of Worms in 1122. The exiled Avignon Papacy during 1309–1376 also put a strain on the papacy, which returned to Rome. In 1648, Pope Innocent X was critical of the Peace of Westphalia, as it weakened the authority of the Holy See throughout much of Europe. From 1798 to 1799, following the French Revolution, the Papal States were briefly occupied as the "Roman Republic", as a sister republic of the First French Empire under Napoleon, before their territory was reestablished.

The Holy See was represented in and identified as a "permanent subject of general customary international law vis-à-vis all states" in the Congress of Vienna (1814–1815).^[20] The Papal States were recognised under the rule of the Papacy and largely restored to their former extent. Despite the Capture of Rome in 1870 by the Kingdom of Italy and the Roman Question during the Savoyard era, which made the Pope a "prisoner in the Vatican" from 1870 to 1929, its international legal subject was "constituted by the ongoing reciprocity of diplomatic relationships" that not only were maintained but multiplied. In 1929, the Lateran Treaty between the Holy See and Italy recognised Vatican City as an independent city-state, along with extraterritorial properties around the region. Since then, Vatican City is distinct from yet under "full ownership, exclusive dominion, and sovereign authority and jurisdiction" of the Holy See (Script error: The function "langx" does not exist.).^{[note 2]}^[21]

Organization

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Template:Catholic Church sidebar The Holy See is one of the last remaining seven absolute monarchies in the world, along with Saudi Arabia, Eswatini, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Brunei and Oman.^[22]^[23]^[24] The Pope governs the Catholic Church through the Roman Curia. The Curia is a complex of offices that administer church affairs at the highest level, including the Secretariat of State, nineteen dicasteries, three Tribunals, eleven Pontifical Councils, and seven Pontifical Commissions.

The Secretariat of State, under the Cardinal Secretary of State, directs and coordinates the Curia. The incumbent, Cardinal Pietro Parolin,^[25] is the See's equivalent of a prime minister. Archbishop Paul Gallagher, Secretary of the Section for Relations with States of the Secretariat of State, acts as the Holy See's minister of foreign affairs. Parolin was named in his role by Pope Francis on 31 August 2013.

File:Vatican City map EN.svg

Vatican City, the Holy See's sovereign territory

The Secretariat of State is the only body of the Curia that is situated within Vatican City. The others are in buildings in different parts of Rome that have extraterritorial rights similar to those of embassies.

Among the most active of the major Curial institutions are the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, which oversees the Catholic Church's doctrine; the Dicastery for Bishops, which coordinates the appointment of bishops worldwide; the Dicastery for Evangelization, which oversees all missionary activities; and the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, which deals with international peace and social issues.

Three tribunals exercise judicial power. The Roman Rota handles normal judicial appeals, the most numerous being those that concern alleged nullity of marriage.^[26] The Apostolic Signatura is the supreme appellate and administrative court concerning decisions even of the Roman Rota and administrative decisions of ecclesiastical superiors (bishops and superiors of religious institutes), such as closing a parish or removing someone from office. It also oversees the work of other ecclesiastical tribunals at all levels.^[27]

The Apostolic Penitentiary deals with matters of conscience, granting absolutions from censures, dispensations, commutations, validations, condonations, and other favors. It also grants indulgences.^[28]

The Prefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See coordinates the finances of the Holy See departments and supervises the administration of all offices, whatever be their degree of autonomy, that manage these finances. The most important of these is the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See.

The Prefecture of the Papal Household is responsible for the organization of the papal household, audiences, and ceremonies, apart from the strictly liturgical part.

Pope Francis reorganized the Curia to prioritize its role in the church's mission to evangelize. This reform insisted that the Curia is not meant to be a centralized bureaucracy, but a service for the Pope and diocesan bishops that is in communication with local bishops' conferences. Likewise more lay people are to be involved in the workings of the dicasteries and in giving them input.^[29]

The Holy See does not dissolve upon a pope's death or resignation. It instead operates under a different set of laws sede vacante. During this interregnum, the heads of the dicasteries of the Curia, such as the prefects of congregations, cease immediately to hold office. The only exceptions are the Major Penitentiary, who continues his important role regarding absolutions and dispensations, and the Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, who administers the temporalities (i.e., properties and finances) of the See of St. Peter during this period. The government of the See, and therefore of the Catholic Church, then falls to the College of Cardinals. Canon law prohibits the College and the Camerlengo from introducing any innovations or novelties in the government of the church during this period.

In 2001, the Holy See had a revenue of 422.098 billion Italian lire, about US$202 million at the time, and a net income of 17.720 billion Italian lire, about US$8 million.^[30] According to an article by David Leigh in the Guardian newspaper, a 2012 report from the Council of Europe identified the value of a section of the Vatican's property assets as an amount in excess of €680m (£570m). In January 2013, Paolo Mennini, a papal official in Rome, managed this portion of the Holy See's assets—consisting of British investments, other European holdings and a currency trading arm. The Guardian newspaper described Mennini and his role in the following manner: "... Paolo Mennini, who is in effect the Pope's merchant banker. Mennini heads a special unit inside the Vatican called the extraordinary division of APSA – Amministrazione del Patrimonio della Sede Apostolica – which handles the 'patrimony of the Holy See'."^[31]

The orders, decorations, and medals of the Holy See are conferred by the Pope as temporal sovereign and fons honorum of the Holy See, similar to the orders awarded by other heads of state.

Status in international law

The Holy See has been recognized, both in state practice and in the writing of modern legal scholars, as a subject of public international law, with rights and duties analogous to those of States. Although the Holy See, as distinct from the Vatican City State, does not fulfill the long-established criteria in international law of statehood—having a permanent population, a defined territory, a stable government, and the capacity to enter into relations with other states^[32]—its possession of full legal personality in international law is shown by the fact that it maintains diplomatic relations with 180^[33] states, that it is a member-state^[34] in various intergovernmental international organizations, and that it is: "respected by the international community of sovereign States and treated as a subject of international law having the capacity to engage in diplomatic relations and to enter into binding agreements with one, several, or many states under international law that are largely geared to establish and preserving peace in the world."^[35]

Diplomacy

File:Holy See relations.svg

Foreign relations with the Holy See:

Diplomatic relations

Other relations

No relations

Since medieval times the episcopal see of Rome has been recognized as a sovereign entity. The Holy See (not the State of Vatican City) maintains formal diplomatic relations with and for the most recent establishment of diplomatic relations with Template:Numrec sovereign states,^[33] and also with the European Union, and the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, as well as having relations of a special character with the Palestine Liberation Organization;^[36]^[37] 69 of the diplomatic missions accredited to the Holy See are situated in Rome. The Holy See maintains 180 permanent diplomatic missions abroad, of which 74 are non-residential, so that many of its 106 concrete missions are accredited to two or more countries or international organizations. The diplomatic activities of the Holy See are directed by the Secretariat of State (headed by the Cardinal Secretary of State), through the Section for Relations with States. There are 12 internationally recognized states with which the Holy See does not have relations.^{[note 3]} The Holy See is the only European subject of international law that has diplomatic relations with the government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) as representing China,^[39]^[40] rather than the government of the People's Republic of China (see Holy See–Taiwan relations).

The British Foreign and Commonwealth Office speaks of Vatican City as the "capital" of the Holy See, although it compares the legal personality of the Holy See to that of the Crown in Christian monarchies and declares that the Holy See and the state of Vatican City are two international identities. It also distinguishes between the employees of the Holy See (2,750 working in the Roman Curia with another 333 working in the Holy See's diplomatic missions abroad) and the 1,909 employees of the Vatican City State.^[15] The British Ambassador to the Holy See uses more precise language, saying that the Holy See "is not the same as the Vatican City State. ... (It) is the universal government of the Catholic Church and operates from the Vatican City State."^[41] This agrees exactly with the expression used by the website of the United States Department of State, in giving information on both the Holy See and the Vatican City State: it too says that the Holy See "operates from the Vatican City State".^[42]

The Holy See is a member of various international organizations and groups including the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), International Telecommunication Union, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The Holy See is also a permanent observer in various international organizations, including the United Nations General Assembly, the Council of Europe, UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization), the World Trade Organization (WTO), and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

Relationship with Vatican City and other territories

Template:Vatican city The Holy See participates as an observer to African Union, Arab League, Council of Europe, the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), Organization of American States, International Organization for Migration and in the United Nations and its agencies FAO, ILO, UNCTAD, UNEP, UNESCO, UN-HABITAT, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, WFP, WHO, WIPO. and as a full member in IAEA, OPCW, Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).

Although the Holy See is closely associated with Vatican City, the independent territory over which the Holy See is sovereign, the two entities are separate and distinct. After the Italian seizure of the Papal States in 1870, the Holy See had no territorial sovereignty. In spite of some uncertainty among jurists as to whether it could continue to act as an independent personality in international matters, the Holy See continued in fact to exercise the right to send and receive diplomatic representatives, maintaining relations with states that included the major powers Russia, Prussia, and Austria-Hungary.^[43]

Where, in accordance with the decision of the 1815 Congress of Vienna, the Nuncio was a member of the Diplomatic Corps and its dean, this arrangement continued to be accepted by the other ambassadors. In the course of the 59 years during which the Holy See held no territorial sovereignty, the number of states that had diplomatic relations with it, which had been reduced to 16, increased to 29.^[43]

The State of the Vatican City was created by the Lateran Treaty in 1929 to "ensure the absolute and visible independence of the Holy See" and "to guarantee to it indisputable sovereignty in international affairs." Archbishop Jean-Louis Tauran, the Holy See's former Secretary for Relations with States, said that Vatican City is a "minuscule support-state that guarantees the spiritual freedom of the Pope with the minimum territory".^[44]

The Holy See, not Vatican City, maintains diplomatic relations with states.^[45] Foreign embassies are accredited to the Holy See, not to Vatican City, and it is the Holy See that establishes treaties and concordats with other sovereign entities. When necessary, the Holy See will enter into a treaty on behalf of Vatican City.

Under the terms of the Lateran Treaty, the Holy See has extraterritorial authority over various sites in Rome and two Italian sites outside of Rome, including the Pontifical Palace at Castel Gandolfo. The same authority is extended under international law over the Apostolic Nunciature of the Holy See in a foreign country.

Military

File:Vatikanoko guardia suitzarra, Lurdako Gure Amaren Santutegian.jpg

The Swiss Guard on patrol

Like various European powers, earlier popes recruited Swiss mercenaries as part of an army. The Pontifical Swiss Guard was founded by Pope Julius II in January 1506 as the personal bodyguards of the Pope and continues to fulfill that function.^[46]^[47] It is listed in the Annuario Pontificio under "Holy See", not under "State of Vatican City".^[48]

As of 2026, the Guard has a fixed number of a 135 members.^[49] Recruitment is arranged by a special agreement between the Holy See and Switzerland. All recruits must be Catholic, unmarried males with Swiss citizenship who have completed basic training with the Swiss Armed Forces with certificates of good conduct, be between the ages of 19 and 30, and be at least 175 centimetres (5 feet 9 inches) in height.^[50]

Members are armed with small arms and the traditional halberd, and trained in bodyguarding tactics.^[51]

The police force in Vatican City, known as the Corps of Gendarmerie of Vatican City, belongs to the city state, not to the Holy See.

The Holy See signed the UN treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, a binding agreement for negotiations for the total elimination of nuclear weapons.^[52]^[53]

Coat of arms

File:Coat of Arms of the Holy See (red).svg

(A variant of the) Arms of the Holy See

File:Coat of arms of Vatican City (2023–present).svg

Arms of Vatican City State

The arms of the Holy See have the gold key in bend and the silver key in bend sinister,^[54]^[55] as in the sede vacante coat of arms and in the external ornaments of the papal coats of arms of individual popes. The reversed arrangement of the keys was chosen for the arms of the newly founded Vatican City State in 1929.^[56]

The coat of arms of the Holy See has no background shield, as can be seen on its official website and on the Holy See passports.^[57]

Notes

↑ Although Saint John Lateran is legally within Rome, it is one of the properties of the Holy See granted extraterritorial privileges.
↑ The Holy See is the central governing body of the Catholic Church and a sovereign entity recognized by international law, consisting of the Pope and the Roman Curia. It is also commonly referred to as "the Vatican", especially when used as a metonym for the hierarchy of the Catholic Church.
↑ Afghanistan, Bhutan, Brunei, Comoros, Laos, the Maldives, North Korea, the People's Republic of China, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Tuvalu and Vietnam.^[38]

References

↑ "the Holy See". Cambridge Dictionary. Archived from the original on 11 January 2024.
↑ "the Holy See". Oxford Learners Dictionaries. Archived from the original on 11 January 2024.
↑ "the Holy See (Catholic Encyclopedia)". 28 January 2024. Archived from the original on 28 January 2024. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
↑ Livingstone, Elizabeth A. (2006). The Concise Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church (2nd ed.). Oxford University Press. p. 33. ISBN 978-0-19-861442-5. Archived from the original on 10 March 2024. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
↑ "Holy See | Definition, Roman Catholicism, History, Governance, Vatican, & Facts | Britannica". Encyclopedia Britannica. 19 August 2024. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
↑ "Holy See (10/05)". U.S. Department of State. Archived from the original on 20 January 2024. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
↑ "Holy See". United States Department of State. Archived from the original on 11 January 2024. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
↑ Holmes, J. Derek (1978). The Triumph of the Holy See: A Short History of the Papacy in the Nineteenth Century. Burns & Oates. p. 142. ISBN 978-7-80186-160-3. Archived from the original on 10 March 2024. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
↑ "Holy See, The country brief". Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Government of Australia). Archived from the original on 20 February 2024. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
↑ "Code of Canon Law: text – IntraText CT". www.intratext.com. Archived from the original on 2 October 2018. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
↑ ^11.0 ^11.1 United States. Department of State. Bureau of Public Affairs (1989). "The Holy See". Backgr Notes Ser: 1–4. PMID 12178005.
↑ "Lateran Treaty | Italy [1929]". Britannica. Archived from the original on 17 January 2022. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
↑ Agnew, John (12 February 2010). "Deus Vult: The Geopolitics of Catholic Church". Geopolitics. 15 (1): 39–61. doi:10.1080/14650040903420388. S2CID 144793259.
↑ "Holy See's Presence in the International Organizations". The Holy See. Archived from the original on 15 February 2014. Retrieved 3 September 2019.
↑ ^15.0 ^15.1 "Holy See". Travel & living abroad. Foreign & Commonwealth Office. Archived from the original on 31 December 2010. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
↑ "Holy See – Observer". Council of Europe. Archived from the original on 8 October 2023. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
↑ "St. Peter, Prince of the Apostles". Catholic Encyclopedia. newadvent.org. Archived from the original on 15 September 2019. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
↑ Direzione dell'Annuario Pontificio presso la Segreteria di Stato (2012). Annuario Pontificio (in Italian). Stato Città del Vaticano: Libreria Editrice Vatican. pp. 11–1019 (cf. full list of the Catholic sees). ISBN 978-88-209-8522-6.
↑ Kersting, Hans (2003). Mainz – tours on foot. 4. Bayerische Verlagsanstalt. ISBN 978-3-89889-078-6.
↑ "'Moral Diplomacy' of the Holy See: Multi-Level Diplomacy of a Transnational Actor". Archived from the original on 14 September 2018. Retrieved 14 September 2018.
↑ "Treaty Between the Holy See and Italy" (PDF). rightofassembly.info. 13 January 2024. Article 03. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 January 2024.
↑ "CIA's factbook Vatican State". 16 February 2022. Archived from the original on 26 January 2022. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
↑ "State and Government". www.vaticanstate.va. Archived from the original on 31 March 2018. Retrieved 1 April 2018.
↑ "These 7 nations are ruled by an absolute monarchy!". Stories of World. 22 December 2015. Archived from the original on 2 April 2018. Retrieved 1 April 2018.
↑ "Dichiarazione Di S.E. Mons. Pietro Parolin in Occasione della sua Nomina a Segretario di Stato". Archived from the original on 22 September 2013. Retrieved 28 October 2013.
↑ Code of Canon Law, canons 1443–1444 Archived 8 January 2010 at the Wayback Machine. The Holy See. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
↑ Code of Canon Law, canon 1445 Archived 8 January 2010 at the Wayback Machine. The Holy See. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
↑ Pastor bonus, articles 117–120 Archived 23 February 2001 at the Wayback Machine. The Vatican. (28 June 1988). Retrieved 11 September 2011.
↑ Pogorelc, Anthony (2020). Vatican. Print: SAGE Encyclopedia of the Sociology of Religion.
↑ "Economic Report of the Holy See for 2000" Zenit 6 July 2001
↑ Leigh, David (21 January 2013). "How the Vatican built a secret property empire using Mussolini's millions". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 2 December 2016. Retrieved 23 January 2013.
↑ These criteria for statehood were first authoritatively enunciated at the Montevideo Convention on Rights and Duties of States, signed by American states on 26 December 1933. "Montevideo Convention". Encyclopedia Britannica.
↑ ^33.0 ^33.1 "Bilateral and Multilateral Relations of the Holy See, update on October 22, 2009". Archived from the original on 9 July 2014.
↑ e.g. IAEA Archived 12 December 2007 at the Wayback Machine, OSCE Archived 8 July 2014 at the Wayback Machine, IOM
↑ Robert Araujo and John Lucal, Papal Diplomacy and the Quest for Peace, the Vatican and International Organizations from the early years to the League of Nations, Sapienza Press (2004), ISBN 1-932589-01-5, p. 16. See also James Crawford, The Creation of States in International Law, (1979) p. 154.
↑ Bilateral and Multilateral Relations of the Holy See Archived 12 October 2010 at the Wayback Machine. The Vatican. (31 May 2007). Retrieved 11 September 2011.
↑ "179 states have full diplomatic relations with the Holy See". Zenit News Agency. 11 January 2012. Archived from the original on 16 January 2012. Retrieved 20 January 2012.
↑ "Mission Impossible: Eject the Holy See from the United Nations". chiesa: News, analysis, and documents on the Catholic Church, by Sandro Magister. 21 August 2007. Archived from the original on 22 July 2011. Retrieved 3 October 2007.
↑ Holy See Press Office: "Bilateral and Multilateral Relations of the Holy See" Archived 6 September 2014 at the Wayback Machine
↑ Annuario Pontificio 2013 (Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 2013, ISBN 978-88-209-9070-1), pp. 1307 (Rappresentanze Pontificie) and 1338 (Corpo Diplomatico presso la Santa Sede)
↑ Ambassador's Address on UK-Holy See Relations Archived 13 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine (emphasis added)
↑ "Holy See". U.S. Department of State. Archived from the original on 19 March 2021. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
↑ ^43.0 ^43.1 Lecture by Archbishop Giovanni Lajolo, 16 February 2006 Archived 27 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine. 30giorni.it. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
↑ Lecture by Archbishop Jean-Louis Tauran, 22 April 2002 Archived 15 February 2014 at the Wayback Machine. The Holy See. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
↑ Bilateral and Multilateral Relations of the Holy See Archived 9 July 2014 at the Wayback Machine. The Holy See. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
↑ "Päpstliche Schweizergarde: History". schweizergarde.ch.
↑ "Pontifical Swiss Guard Pontifical Swiss Guard Profile". www.vatican.va.
↑ Annuario Pontificio 2013 (Libreria Editrice Vaticana 2013), p. 1269
↑ "Pontifical Swiss Guard Pontifical Swiss Guard Structure". www.vatican.va.
↑ "Päpstliche Schweizergarde: Les conditions". schweizergarde.ch.
↑ "Päpstliche Schweizergarde: Formazione". schweizergarde.ch.
↑ "Chapter XXVI: Disarmament – No. 9 Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons". United Nations Treaty Collection. 7 July 2017. Archived from the original on 6 August 2019. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
↑ Gomes, Robin (23 October 2018). "Holy See urges ratification of Nuclear Weapons Ban Treaty". Vatican News. Archived from the original on 10 August 2019. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
↑ Galbreath, Donald Lindsay (13 September 1930). "A Treatise on Ecclesiastical Heraldry". W. Heffer and sons, Limited. Archived from the original on 10 March 2024. Retrieved 12 November 2020 – via Google Books.
↑ "The golden key, which points upwards on the dexter side, signifies the power that extends even to Heaven. The silver key, which must point up to the sinister side, symbolizes the power over all the faithful on earth." Bruno Bernhard Heim, Heraldry in the Catholic Church: Its Origin, Customs and Laws (Van Duren 1978 ISBN 9780391008731), p. 54.
↑ "Appendix B ("All. B. Stemma Ufficiale dello Stato della Città del Vaticano") of the Fundamental Law of Vatican City State, 7 June 1929" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 December 2013. Retrieved 7 February 2014.
↑ "Holy See Passport" (PDF). The Holy See and Vatican City State. Retrieved 3 May 2025.

External links

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The Holy See news portal (Vatican News)
Vatican News on YouTube

Template:Holy See Template:Foreign relations of the Holy See Template:Orders, decorations, and medals of the Holy See Template:Papal symbols and ceremonial Template:Roman Curia footer Template:Vatican City topics Template:Catholicism Template:Latin Church footer Template:Basilicas in the Diocese of Rome Template:Patriarchates in Christianity Template:Sovereign states of Europe Template:Council of Europe Template:OSCE

[18] Although Saint John Lateran is legally within Rome, it is one of the properties of the Holy See granted extraterritorial privileges.

[22] The Holy See is the central governing body of the Catholic Church and a sovereign entity recognized by international law, consisting of the Pope and the Roman Curia. It is also commonly referred to as "the Vatican", especially when used as a metonym for the hierarchy of the Catholic Church.

[41] Afghanistan, Bhutan, Brunei, Comoros, Laos, the Maldives, North Korea, the People's Republic of China, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Tuvalu and Vietnam.^[38]

[1] "the Holy See". Cambridge Dictionary. Archived from the original on 11 January 2024.

[:0-2] "the Holy See". Oxford Learners Dictionaries. Archived from the original on 11 January 2024.

[3] "the Holy See (Catholic Encyclopedia)". 28 January 2024. Archived from the original on 28 January 2024. Retrieved 28 January 2024.

[:1-4] Livingstone, Elizabeth A. (2006). The Concise Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church (2nd ed.). Oxford University Press. p. 33. ISBN 978-0-19-861442-5. Archived from the original on 10 March 2024. Retrieved 9 February 2024.

[5] "Holy See | Definition, Roman Catholicism, History, Governance, Vatican, & Facts | Britannica". Encyclopedia Britannica. 19 August 2024. Retrieved 3 September 2024.

[6] "Holy See (10/05)". U.S. Department of State. Archived from the original on 20 January 2024. Retrieved 20 January 2024.

[7] "Holy See". United States Department of State. Archived from the original on 11 January 2024. Retrieved 11 January 2024.

[8] Holmes, J. Derek (1978). The Triumph of the Holy See: A Short History of the Papacy in the Nineteenth Century. Burns & Oates. p. 142. ISBN 978-7-80186-160-3. Archived from the original on 10 March 2024. Retrieved 20 February 2024.

[9] "Holy See, The country brief". Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Government of Australia). Archived from the original on 20 February 2024. Retrieved 20 February 2024.

[10] "Code of Canon Law: text – IntraText CT". www.intratext.com. Archived from the original on 2 October 2018. Retrieved 5 March 2023.

[pmid12178005-11] 11.0 ^11.1 United States. Department of State. Bureau of Public Affairs (1989). "The Holy See". Backgr Notes Ser: 1–4. PMID 12178005.

[12] "Lateran Treaty | Italy [1929]". Britannica. Archived from the original on 17 January 2022. Retrieved 25 January 2022.

[Geopolitics-13] Agnew, John (12 February 2010). "Deus Vult: The Geopolitics of Catholic Church". Geopolitics. 15 (1): 39–61. doi:10.1080/14650040903420388. S2CID 144793259.

[14] "Holy See's Presence in the International Organizations". The Holy See. Archived from the original on 15 February 2014. Retrieved 3 September 2019.

[fco-15] 15.0 ^15.1 "Holy See". Travel & living abroad. Foreign & Commonwealth Office. Archived from the original on 31 December 2010. Retrieved 5 February 2016.

[16] "Holy See – Observer". Council of Europe. Archived from the original on 8 October 2023. Retrieved 20 February 2024.

[17] "St. Peter, Prince of the Apostles". Catholic Encyclopedia. newadvent.org. Archived from the original on 15 September 2019. Retrieved 5 March 2023.

[19] Direzione dell'Annuario Pontificio presso la Segreteria di Stato (2012). Annuario Pontificio (in Italian). Stato Città del Vaticano: Libreria Editrice Vatican. pp. 11–1019 (cf. full list of the Catholic sees). ISBN 978-88-209-8522-6.

[Kersting-20] Kersting, Hans (2003). Mainz – tours on foot. 4. Bayerische Verlagsanstalt. ISBN 978-3-89889-078-6.

[21] "'Moral Diplomacy' of the Holy See: Multi-Level Diplomacy of a Transnational Actor". Archived from the original on 14 September 2018. Retrieved 14 September 2018.

[23] "Treaty Between the Holy See and Italy" (PDF). rightofassembly.info. 13 January 2024. Article 03. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 January 2024.

[factbook-24] "CIA's factbook Vatican State". 16 February 2022. Archived from the original on 26 January 2022. Retrieved 25 January 2021.

[25] "State and Government". www.vaticanstate.va. Archived from the original on 31 March 2018. Retrieved 1 April 2018.

[26] "These 7 nations are ruled by an absolute monarchy!". Stories of World. 22 December 2015. Archived from the original on 2 April 2018. Retrieved 1 April 2018.

[27] "Dichiarazione Di S.E. Mons. Pietro Parolin in Occasione della sua Nomina a Segretario di Stato". Archived from the original on 22 September 2013. Retrieved 28 October 2013.

[28] Code of Canon Law, canons 1443–1444 Archived 8 January 2010 at the Wayback Machine. The Holy See. Retrieved 11 September 2011.

[29] Code of Canon Law, canon 1445 Archived 8 January 2010 at the Wayback Machine. The Holy See. Retrieved 11 September 2011.

[30] Pastor bonus, articles 117–120 Archived 23 February 2001 at the Wayback Machine. The Vatican. (28 June 1988). Retrieved 11 September 2011.

[31] Pogorelc, Anthony (2020). Vatican. Print: SAGE Encyclopedia of the Sociology of Religion.

[32] "Economic Report of the Holy See for 2000" Zenit 6 July 2001

[33] Leigh, David (21 January 2013). "How the Vatican built a secret property empire using Mussolini's millions". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 2 December 2016. Retrieved 23 January 2013.

[34] These criteria for statehood were first authoritatively enunciated at the Montevideo Convention on Rights and Duties of States, signed by American states on 26 December 1933. "Montevideo Convention". Encyclopedia Britannica.

[DipRel-35] 33.0 ^33.1 "Bilateral and Multilateral Relations of the Holy See, update on October 22, 2009". Archived from the original on 9 July 2014.

[36] .g. IAEA Archived 12 December 2007 at the Wayback Machine, OSCE Archived 8 July 2014 at the Wayback Machine, IOM

[37] Robert Araujo and John Lucal, Papal Diplomacy and the Quest for Peace, the Vatican and International Organizations from the early years to the League of Nations, Sapienza Press (2004), ISBN 1-932589-01-5, p. 16. See also James Crawford, The Creation of States in International Law, (1979) p. 154.

[38] Bilateral and Multilateral Relations of the Holy See Archived 12 October 2010 at the Wayback Machine. The Vatican. (31 May 2007). Retrieved 11 September 2011.

[39] "179 states have full diplomatic relations with the Holy See". Zenit News Agency. 11 January 2012. Archived from the original on 16 January 2012. Retrieved 20 January 2012.

[40] "Mission Impossible: Eject the Holy See from the United Nations". chiesa: News, analysis, and documents on the Catholic Church, by Sandro Magister. 21 August 2007. Archived from the original on 22 July 2011. Retrieved 3 October 2007.

[42] Holy See Press Office: "Bilateral and Multilateral Relations of the Holy See" Archived 6 September 2014 at the Wayback Machine

[43] Annuario Pontificio 2013 (Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 2013, ISBN 978-88-209-9070-1), pp. 1307 (Rappresentanze Pontificie) and 1338 (Corpo Diplomatico presso la Santa Sede)

[44] Ambassador's Address on UK-Holy See Relations Archived 13 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine (emphasis added)

[45] "Holy See". U.S. Department of State. Archived from the original on 19 March 2021. Retrieved 26 July 2022.

[30giorni.it-46] 43.0 ^43.1 Lecture by Archbishop Giovanni Lajolo, 16 February 2006 Archived 27 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine. 30giorni.it. Retrieved 11 September 2011.

[47] Lecture by Archbishop Jean-Louis Tauran, 22 April 2002 Archived 15 February 2014 at the Wayback Machine. The Holy See. Retrieved 11 September 2011.

[48] Bilateral and Multilateral Relations of the Holy See Archived 9 July 2014 at the Wayback Machine. The Holy See. Retrieved 11 September 2011.

[49] "Päpstliche Schweizergarde: History". schweizergarde.ch.

[50] "Pontifical Swiss Guard Pontifical Swiss Guard Profile". www.vatican.va.

[51] Annuario Pontificio 2013 (Libreria Editrice Vaticana 2013), p. 1269

[52] "Pontifical Swiss Guard Pontifical Swiss Guard Structure". www.vatican.va.

[53] "Päpstliche Schweizergarde: Les conditions". schweizergarde.ch.

[54] "Päpstliche Schweizergarde: Formazione". schweizergarde.ch.

[55] "Chapter XXVI: Disarmament – No. 9 Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons". United Nations Treaty Collection. 7 July 2017. Archived from the original on 6 August 2019. Retrieved 10 August 2019.

[56] Gomes, Robin (23 October 2018). "Holy See urges ratification of Nuclear Weapons Ban Treaty". Vatican News. Archived from the original on 10 August 2019. Retrieved 10 August 2019.

[57] Galbreath, Donald Lindsay (13 September 1930). "A Treatise on Ecclesiastical Heraldry". W. Heffer and sons, Limited. Archived from the original on 10 March 2024. Retrieved 12 November 2020 – via Google Books.

[58] "The golden key, which points upwards on the dexter side, signifies the power that extends even to Heaven. The silver key, which must point up to the sinister side, symbolizes the power over all the faithful on earth." Bruno Bernhard Heim, Heraldry in the Catholic Church: Its Origin, Customs and Laws (Van Duren 1978 ISBN 9780391008731), p. 54.

[59] "Appendix B ("All. B. Stemma Ufficiale dello Stato della Città del Vaticano") of the Fundamental Law of Vatican City State, 7 June 1929" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 December 2013. Retrieved 7 February 2014.

[60] "Holy See Passport" (PDF). The Holy See and Vatican City State. Retrieved 3 May 2025.

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[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

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[14]

[15]

[16]

[17]

[note 1]

[18]

[19]

[20]

[note 2]

[21]

[22]

[23]

[24]

[25]

[26]

[27]

[28]

[29]

[30]

[31]

[32]

[33]

[34]

[35]

[36]

[37]

[note 3]

[39]

[40]

[41]

[42]

[43]

[44]

[45]

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[38]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{Short description|Jurisdiction of the Catholic Church and Vatican City}}
-{{About|the city-state's government|the city-state in Europe|Vatican City}}
+{{About|the city-state and religion's government|the city-state in Europe|Vatican City|other uses}}
 {{pp-move}}
 {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2023}}{{Use Oxford spelling|date = January 2025}}
@@ Line 16: / Line 16: @@
 | symbol_type_article    = Coat of arms of the Holy See
 | coa_size               = 70
-| national_anthem        = {{native name|it|[[Pontifical Anthem|Inno e Marcia Pontificale]]}}<br />"Pontifical Anthem and March"<div style="padding-top:0.5em;">{{center| }}</div>[[File:United States Navy Band - Inno e Marcia Pontificale.ogg|noicon|center]]
+| national_anthem        = {{native name|it|[[Pontifical Anthem|Inno Pontificio]]}}<br />"Pontifical Hymn"<div style="padding-top:0.5em;">{{center| }}</div>[[File:United States Navy Band - Inno e Marcia Pontificale.ogg|noicon|center]]
 | coordinates            = {{Coord|41|54.2|N|12|27.2|E|type:city|display=inline, title}}
 | org_type               = [[Apostolic see|Apostolic]]{{Notetag|[[Episcopal see]] of the [[Bishop in the Catholic Church|Bishop]] of Rome, the Pope, head of the worldwide [[Catholic Church]].}}<br>[[Theocracy]]{{Notetag|The Pope as [[head of state]] or [[sovereign]] of the [[Vatican City|Vatican City State]].}}
@@ Line 22: / Line 22: @@
 | admin_center           = [[Diocese of Rome]]
 [[Catholic Church by country|Worldwide]]{{efn|name=jurisdiction|[[Universal jurisdiction|Universal]] [[full communion]], [[Latin Church]], [[Catholic Church]].}}
-| demonym                = Papal<br>Pontifical
+| demonym                = Papal<br>Pontifical<br>Vatican
 | religion               = [[Catholic Church]]
 | patron_saint           = [[Saint Peter|Peter]]
@@ Line 45: / Line 45: @@
 | established_date5      = 756–1870<br /><small>1075: ''[[Dictatus papae]]''<br>1177: [[Treaty of Venice]] (sovereignty reaffirmed by Emperor [[Frederick I, Holy Roman Emperor|Frederick I]] of the [[Holy Roman Empire]])</small>
 | established_event6     = [[Prisoner in the Vatican]]
-| established_date6      = 1870–1929<br /><small>(under the [[Kingdom of Italy]])</small>
+| established_date6      = 1870–1929<br /><small>(control of the area under the [[Kingdom of Italy]])</small>
 | established_event7     = [[Vatican City]]
-| established_date7      = 1929–<br /><small>([[Lateran Treaty]] with Italy)</small>
+| established_date7      = 1929–<br /><small>([[Lateran Treaty]] with Italy creates the modern state of Vatican City)</small>
-| official_website       = {{URL|https://www.vatican.va/}}
+| official_website       = {{URL|vatican.va}}
 | official_languages     = [[Ecclesiastical Latin|Latin]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.international.gc.ca/country-pays/holy_see-saint-siege/about-a_propos.aspx?lang=eng |title=About the Holy See |date=20 July 2022 |access-date=17 October 2022 |archive-date=17 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221017121907/https://www.international.gc.ca/country-pays/holy_see-saint-siege/about-a_propos.aspx?lang=eng |url-status=live }}</ref>
 | languages2_type        = [[Working language]]
@@ Line 57: / Line 57: @@
 }}
-The '''Holy See'''<ref>{{Cite web |title=the Holy See |url=https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/holy-see |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240111135945/https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/holy-see |archive-date=2024-01-11 |website=[[Cambridge Dictionary]]}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=the Holy See |url=https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/the-holy-see#:~:text=%C3%B0%C9%99%20%CB%8Ch%C9%99%CA%8Ali%20%CB%88si%CB%90%2F-,%2F%C3%B0%C9%99%20%CB%8Ch%C9%99%CA%8Ali%20%CB%88si%CB%90%2F,Oxford%20Advanced%20Learner's%20Dictionary%20app. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240111140254/https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/the-holy-see |archive-date=2024-01-11 |website=[[Oxford English Dictionary|Oxford Learners Dictionaries]]}}</ref> ({{langx|la|Sancta Sedes|lit=Holy Chair}},<ref>{{cite web |date=28 January 2024 |title=the Holy See (Catholic Encyclopedia) |url=https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07424b.htm?lang=eng |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240128062041/https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07424b.htm?lang=eng |archive-date=28 January 2024 |access-date=28 January 2024}}</ref> {{IPA|la-x-church|ˈsaŋkta ˈsedes|pron:|link=yes}}; {{langx|it|Santa Sede}} {{IPA|it|ˈsanta ˈsɛːde|}}), also called the '''See of Rome''', the '''Petrine See''' or the '''Apostolic See''',<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Livingstone |first=Elizabeth A. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3wksAQAAMAAJ |title=The Concise Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church |date=2006 |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |isbn=978-0-19-861442-5 |edition=2nd |pages=33 |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240310114658/https://books.google.com/books?id=3wksAQAAMAAJ |archive-date=10 March 2024 |url-status=live |access-date=9 February 2024 }}</ref> is the central governing body of the [[Catholic Church]] and [[Vatican City]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-08-19 |title=Holy See {{!}} Definition, Roman Catholicism, History, Governance, Vatican, & Facts {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Holy-See |access-date=2024-09-03 |website=[[Encyclopedia Britannica]] |language=en}}</ref> It encompasses the office of the [[pope]] as the [[Bishops in the Catholic Church|bishop]] of the [[apostolic see|apostolic episcopal see]] of [[Diocese of Rome|Rome]], and serves as the spiritual and administrative authority of the worldwide Catholic Church and Vatican City.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Holy See (10/05) |url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/outofdate/bgn/holysee/55610.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240120033318/https://2009-2017.state.gov/outofdate/bgn/holysee/55610.htm |archive-date=2024-01-20 |access-date=2024-01-20 |website=U.S. Department of State}}</ref> Under [[international law]], the [[Legal status of the Holy See|Holy See holds the status of a sovereign juridical entity]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Holy See |url=https://www.state.gov/countries-areas/holy-see/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240111133638/https://www.state.gov/countries-areas/holy-see/ |archive-date=2024-01-11 |access-date=2024-01-11 |website=[[United States Department of State]] |language=en-US}}</ref>
+The '''Holy See'''<ref>{{Cite web |title=the Holy See |url=https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/holy-see |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240111135945/https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/holy-see |archive-date=2024-01-11 |website=[[Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary|Cambridge Dictionary]]}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=the Holy See |url=https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/the-holy-see#:~:text=%C3%B0%C9%99%20%CB%8Ch%C9%99%CA%8Ali%20%CB%88si%CB%90%2F-,%2F%C3%B0%C9%99%20%CB%8Ch%C9%99%CA%8Ali%20%CB%88si%CB%90%2F,Oxford%20Advanced%20Learner's%20Dictionary%20app. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240111140254/https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/the-holy-see |archive-date=2024-01-11 |website=[[Oxford English Dictionary|Oxford Learners Dictionaries]]}}</ref> ({{langx|la|Sancta Sedes|lit=Holy Chair}},<ref>{{cite web |date=28 January 2024 |title=the Holy See (Catholic Encyclopedia) |url=https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07424b.htm?lang=eng |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240128062041/https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07424b.htm?lang=eng |archive-date=28 January 2024 |access-date=28 January 2024}}</ref> {{IPA|la-x-church|ˈsaŋkta ˈsedes|pron:|link=yes}}; {{langx|it|Santa Sede}} {{IPA|it|ˈsanta ˈsɛːde|}}), also called the '''See of Rome''', the '''Petrine See''' or the '''Apostolic See''',<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Livingstone |first=Elizabeth A. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3wksAQAAMAAJ |title=The Concise Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church |date=2006 |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |isbn=978-0-19-861442-5 |edition=2nd |pages=33 |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240310114658/https://books.google.com/books?id=3wksAQAAMAAJ |archive-date=10 March 2024 |url-status=live |access-date=9 February 2024 }}</ref> is the central governing body of the [[Catholic Church]] and [[Vatican City]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-08-19 |title=Holy See {{!}} Definition, Roman Catholicism, History, Governance, Vatican, & Facts {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Holy-See |access-date=2024-09-03 |website=[[Encyclopedia Britannica]] |language=en}}</ref> It encompasses the office of the [[pope]] as the [[Bishops in the Catholic Church|bishop]] of the [[apostolic see|apostolic episcopal see]] of [[Diocese of Rome|Rome]], and serves as the spiritual and administrative authority of the worldwide Catholic Church and Vatican City.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Holy See (10/05) |url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/outofdate/bgn/holysee/55610.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240120033318/https://2009-2017.state.gov/outofdate/bgn/holysee/55610.htm |archive-date=2024-01-20 |access-date=2024-01-20 |website=U.S. Department of State}}</ref> Under [[international law]], the [[Legal status of the Holy See|Holy See holds the status of a sovereign juridical entity]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Holy See |url=https://www.state.gov/countries-areas/holy-see/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240111133638/https://www.state.gov/countries-areas/holy-see/ |archive-date=2024-01-11 |access-date=2024-01-11 |website=[[United States Department of State]] |language=en-US}}</ref>
-According to [[Sacred tradition|Catholic tradition]] and historical records, the Holy See was founded in the first century by [[Saint Peter]] and [[Paul the Apostle|Saint Paul]]. By virtue of the doctrines of [[Primacy of Peter|Petrine]] and [[papal primacy|papal]] primacy, it is the focal point of [[full communion]] for Catholics around the world.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Holmes |first=J. Derek |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ikAbAAAAIAAJ |title=The Triumph of the Holy See: A Short History of the Papacy in the Nineteenth Century |date=1978 |publisher=[[Burns & Oates]] |isbn=978-7-80186-160-3 |pages=142 |language=en |access-date=20 February 2024 |archive-date=10 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240310114707/https://books.google.com/books?id=ikAbAAAAIAAJ |url-status=live }}</ref> The Holy See is headquartered in, operates from, and exercises "exclusive dominion" over Vatican City, an independent [[city-state]] enclaved in Rome, and of which the pope is the [[head of state]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Holy See, The country brief |url=https://www.dfat.gov.au/geo/holy-see/holy-see-the-country-brief |website=Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Government of Australia) |access-date=20 February 2024 |archive-date=20 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240220143217/https://www.dfat.gov.au/geo/holy-see/holy-see-the-country-brief |url-status=live }}</ref>
+According to Catholic historical records {{citation needed|date=May 2026}} and [[Sacred tradition|tradition]], the Holy See was founded in the first century by [[Saint Peter]] and [[Paul the Apostle|Saint Paul]].{{Citation needed|date=May 2026}} By virtue of the doctrines of [[Primacy of Peter|Petrine]] and [[papal primacy|papal]] primacy, it is the focal point of [[full communion]] for Catholics around the world.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Holmes |first=J. Derek |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ikAbAAAAIAAJ |title=The Triumph of the Holy See: A Short History of the Papacy in the Nineteenth Century |date=1978 |publisher=[[Burns & Oates]] |isbn=978-7-80186-160-3 |pages=142 |language=en |access-date=20 February 2024 |archive-date=10 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240310114707/https://books.google.com/books?id=ikAbAAAAIAAJ |url-status=live }}</ref> The Holy See is headquartered in, operates from, and exercises "exclusive dominion" over the Vatican City, an independent [[city-state]] enclaved in [[Rome]], where the pope is the [[Elective monarchy|elected monarch]], and therefore [[head of state]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Holy See, The country brief |url=https://www.dfat.gov.au/geo/holy-see/holy-see-the-country-brief |website=Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Government of Australia) |access-date=20 February 2024 |archive-date=20 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240220143217/https://www.dfat.gov.au/geo/holy-see/holy-see-the-country-brief |url-status=live }}</ref>
-The Holy See is administered by the [[Roman Curia]], which are the central institutions assisting the pope and through which the affairs of the Catholic Church are conducted.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.intratext.com/IXT/ENG0017/_P19.HTM|title=Code of Canon Law: text – IntraText CT|website=www.intratext.com|accessdate=5 March 2023|archive-date=2 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181002030552/http://www.intratext.com/IXT/ENG0017/_P19.HTM|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="pmid12178005" /> The Roman Curia includes [[Dicastery|dicasteries]], comparable to ministries and executive departments. The [[Cardinal Secretary of State]] is its chief administrator. [[Papal conclave|Papal elections]] are carried out by members of the [[College of Cardinals]].
+The Holy See is administered by the [[Roman Curia]], which are the central institutions assisting the pope and through which the affairs of the Catholic Church are conducted.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.intratext.com/IXT/ENG0017/_P19.HTM|title=Code of Canon Law: text – IntraText CT|website=www.intratext.com|access-date=5 March 2023|archive-date=2 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181002030552/http://www.intratext.com/IXT/ENG0017/_P19.HTM|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="pmid12178005" /> The Roman Curia includes [[Dicastery|dicasteries]], comparable to [[Ministry (government department)|ministries or executive departments]]. The [[Cardinal Secretary of State]] is its chief administrator. [[Papal conclave|Papal elections]] are carried out by members of the [[College of Cardinals]].
-Although the Holy See is often [[Metonymy|metonymically]] referred to as the "'''Vatican'''", the Vatican City State was distinctively established with the [[Lateran Treaty]] of 1929, agreed between the Holy See and Italy, to ensure the [[Temporal power of the Holy See|temporal]], diplomatic, and spiritual independence of the papacy.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Lateran Treaty {{!}} Italy [1929] |url=https://www.britannica.com/event/Lateran-Treaty|access-date=25 January 2022|website=Britannica |language=en|archive-date=17 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220117022746/https://www.britannica.com/event/Lateran-Treaty|url-status=live}}</ref> As such, [[Nuncio|papal nuncios]], who are papal diplomats to states and international organizations, are recognized as representing the Holy See and ''not'' the Vatican City State, as prescribed in the [[Canon law of the Catholic Church]]. The Holy See is thus viewed as the central government of the Catholic Church and Vatican City.<ref name="pmid12178005">{{cite journal |author=United States. Department of State. Bureau of Public Affairs |title=The Holy See. |journal=Backgr Notes Ser |year=1989 |pages=1–4 |pmid=12178005 }}</ref> The Catholic Church is the largest non-government provider of [[Catholic school|education]] and [[Catholic Church and health care|health care]] in the world.<ref name="Geopolitics">{{cite journal |last=Agnew |first=John |title=Deus Vult: The Geopolitics of Catholic Church |journal=Geopolitics |date=12 February 2010 |volume=15 |issue=1 |pages=39–61 |doi=10.1080/14650040903420388 |s2cid=144793259}}</ref>
+Although the Holy See is often [[Metonymy|metonymically]] referred to as the "'''Vatican'''", the Vatican City State was distinctively established with the [[Lateran Treaty]] of 1929, agreed between the Holy See and the [[Kingdom of Italy (1922-1943)|Kingdom of Italy]], to ensure the [[Temporal power of the Holy See|temporal]], diplomatic, and spiritual independence of the papacy.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Lateran Treaty {{!}} Italy [1929] |url=https://www.britannica.com/event/Lateran-Treaty|access-date=25 January 2022|website=Britannica |language=en|archive-date=17 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220117022746/https://www.britannica.com/event/Lateran-Treaty|url-status=live}}</ref> As such, [[Nuncio|papal nuncios]], who are papal diplomats to states and international organizations, are recognized as representing the Holy See and ''not'' the Vatican City State, as prescribed in the [[canon law of the Catholic Church]]. The Holy See is thus viewed as the central government of the Catholic Church and Vatican City.<ref name="pmid12178005">{{cite journal |author=United States. Department of State. Bureau of Public Affairs |title=The Holy See. |journal=Backgr Notes Ser |year=1989 |pages=1–4 |pmid=12178005 }}</ref> The Catholic Church is the largest non-government provider of [[Catholic school|education]] and [[Catholic Church and health care|health care]] in the world.<ref name="Geopolitics">{{cite journal |last=Agnew |first=John |title=Deus Vult: The Geopolitics of Catholic Church |journal=Geopolitics |date=12 February 2010 |volume=15 |issue=1 |pages=39–61 |doi=10.1080/14650040903420388 |s2cid=144793259}}</ref>
-The [[foreign relations of the Holy See|Holy See maintains bilateral diplomatic relations]] with 180 sovereign states, signs [[concordat]]s and treaties, and performs multilateral diplomacy with multiple [[intergovernmental organization]]s, including the [[United Nations]] and its agencies, the [[Council of Europe]], the [[European Communities]], the [[Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe]], and the [[Organization of American States]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/secretariat_state/documents/rc_seg-st_doc_20020422_tauran_en.html |title=Holy See's Presence in the International Organizations |website=The Holy See |access-date=3 September 2019 |archive-date=15 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140215051159/https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/secretariat_state/documents/rc_seg-st_doc_20020422_tauran_en.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="fco">{{cite web |url=http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/travel-advice-by-country/country-profile/europe/holy-see/ |title=Holy See |publisher=Foreign & Commonwealth Office |work=Travel & living abroad |access-date=5 February 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101231084624/http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/travel-advice-by-country/country-profile/europe/holy-see/ |archive-date=31 December 2010}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Holy See – Observer |url=https://www.coe.int/en/web/portal/holy-see |access-date=2024-02-20 |website=Council of Europe |language=en-GB |archive-date=8 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231008140454/https://www.coe.int/en/web/portal/holy-see |url-status=live }}</ref>
+The [[foreign relations of the Holy See|Holy See maintains bilateral diplomatic relations]] with 180 sovereign states, signs [[concordat]]s and [[treaties]], and performs [[multilateral diplomacy]] with multiple [[intergovernmental organization]]s, including the [[United Nations]] and its agencies, the [[Council of Europe]], the [[European Communities]], the [[Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe]], and the [[Organization of American States]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/secretariat_state/documents/rc_seg-st_doc_20020422_tauran_en.html |title=Holy See's Presence in the International Organizations |website=The Holy See |access-date=3 September 2019 |archive-date=15 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140215051159/https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/secretariat_state/documents/rc_seg-st_doc_20020422_tauran_en.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="fco">{{cite web |url=http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/travel-advice-by-country/country-profile/europe/holy-see/ |title=Holy See |publisher=Foreign & Commonwealth Office |work=Travel & living abroad |access-date=5 February 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101231084624/http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/travel-advice-by-country/country-profile/europe/holy-see/ |archive-date=31 December 2010}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Holy See – Observer |url=https://www.coe.int/en/web/portal/holy-see |access-date=2024-02-20 |website=Council of Europe |language=en-GB |archive-date=8 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231008140454/https://www.coe.int/en/web/portal/holy-see |url-status=live }}</ref>
 == Terminology ==
 [[File:Roma-san giovanni03.jpg|thumb|The papal throne ([[cathedra]]), in the apse of [[Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran]], symbolises the Holy See.]]
-The word "see" comes from the Latin word {{lang|la|sedes}}, meaning 'seat', which refers to the [[Bishop|episcopal]] throne ([[cathedra]]). The term "[[Apostolic see|Apostolic See]]" can refer to any see founded by one of the Twelve Apostles. When used with the definite article, it is used in the Catholic Church to refer specifically to the see of the Bishop of Rome, whom that Church sees as the successor of Saint Peter.<ref>{{Cite encyclopedia|url=https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11744a.htm|encyclopedia=Catholic Encyclopedia |title=St. Peter, Prince of the Apostles|publisher=newadvent.org|access-date=5 March 2023|archive-date=15 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190915021152/http://newadvent.org/cathen/11744a.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> While [[St. Peter's Basilica]] in Vatican City is perhaps the church most associated with the papacy, the actual cathedral of the Holy See is the [[Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran]] in Rome.{{NoteTag|Although Saint John Lateran is legally within Rome, it is one of the properties of the Holy See granted [[extraterritorial privileges]].}}
+The word "see" comes from the Latin word {{lang|la|sedes}}, meaning 'seat', which refers to the [[Bishop|episcopal]] throne ([[cathedra]]). The term "[[Apostolic see|Apostolic See]]" can refer to any see founded by one of the Twelve Apostles. When used with the definite article, it is used in the Catholic Church to refer specifically to the see of the Bishop of Rome, whom that Church considers the successor of Saint Peter.<ref>{{Cite encyclopedia |url=https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11744a.htm |encyclopedia=Catholic Encyclopedia |title=St. Peter, Prince of the Apostles |publisher=newadvent.org |access-date=5 March 2023 |archive-date=15 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190915021152/http://newadvent.org/cathen/11744a.htm |url-status=live}}</ref> While [[St. Peter's Basilica]] in Vatican City is perhaps the church most associated with the papacy, the actual cathedral of the Holy See is the [[Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran]] in Rome.{{NoteTag|Although Saint John Lateran is legally within Rome, it is one of the properties of the Holy See granted [[extraterritorial privileges]].}}
 In the Roman Catholic Church, only the see of the Pope bears the right to be addressed symbolically as "holy".<ref>{{Cite book |last=Direzione dell'Annuario Pontificio presso la Segreteria di Stato |title=Annuario Pontificio |publisher=Libreria Editrice Vatican |year=2012 |isbn=978-88-209-8522-6 |location=Stato Città del Vaticano |pages=11–1019 (cf. full list of the Catholic sees) |language=Italian}}</ref> There was one exception to this rule, represented by the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Mainz|Bishopric of Mainz]]. During the [[Holy Roman Empire]], the former [[Archbishopric of Mainz]], which was also of [[prince-elector|electoral]] and [[primate (bishop)|primatial]] rank, had the privilege to bear the title of "the Holy See of Mainz" (Latin: {{lang|la|Sancta Sedes Moguntina}}).<ref name="Kersting">{{cite book |last=Kersting |first=Hans |title=Mainz – tours on foot |year=2003 |publisher=Bayerische Verlagsanstalt |isbn=978-3-89889-078-6 |volume=4}}</ref>
 == History ==
-{{further|History of the papacy|Papal primacy|Temporal power (papal)}}According to Catholic tradition, the [[apostolic see]] of Diocese of Rome was established in the 1st century by Saint Peter and [[Saint Paul]]. In 313, the legal status of the Catholic Church and its property was recognised by the [[Edict of Milan]], by [[Roman emperor]] [[Constantine the Great]]. In 380, it became the [[state church of the Roman Empire]] via the [[Edict of Thessalonica]], by Emperor [[Theodosius I]].
+{{further|History of the papacy|Papal primacy|Temporal power (papal)}}According to Catholic tradition, the [[apostolic see]] of Diocese of Rome was established in the 1st century by Saint Peter and [[Saint Paul]].{{citation needed|date=May 2026}}{{Inconsistent}}
-After the [[fall of the Western Roman Empire]] in 476, the temporal [[Legal history of the Catholic Church|legal jurisdisction]] of the [[papal primacy]] was further recognised as promulgated in [[Canon law of the Catholic Church|Canon law]]. In 728, the Holy See was granted territory in the [[Duchy of Rome]] by the [[Donation of Sutri]] by [[List of kings of the Lombards|King]] [[Liutprand, King of the Lombards|Liutprand]] of the [[Lombards]]. In 756, it was granted [[sovereignty]] by the territorial [[Donation of Pepin]], by [[List of Frankish kings|King]] [[Pepin the Short|Pepin]] of the [[Franks]].
+In 313, the legal status of the Catholic Church and its property was recognised by the supposed [[Edict of Milan]], by [[Roman emperor]] [[Constantine the Great]]. The [[Donation of Constantine]] supposedly transferred Western Roman political authority to the Pope, and was widely accepted until it was revealed to be a fraud shortly before the Reformation.
-From 756 to 1870, the [[Papal States]] held extensive territory and armed forces. In 800, [[Pope Leo III]] [[Coronation of the Holy Roman Emperor|crowned]] [[Charlemagne]] as [[Holy Roman Emperor|Roman Emperor]] by ''[[translatio imperii]]''. The Pope's [[Temporal power (papal)|temporal power]] peaked around the time of the [[papal coronation]]s of the emperors of the [[Holy Roman Empire]] from 858, and the ''[[Dictatus papae]]'' in 1075, which conversely also described [[Papal deposing power]]. Several modern states trace their own sovereignty to recognition in medieval papal bulls.
+In 380, it became the [[state church of the Roman Empire]] via the [[Edict of Thessalonica]], by Emperor [[Theodosius I]]. After the [[fall of the Western Roman Empire]] in 476, the temporal [[Legal history of the Catholic Church|legal jurisdiction]] of the [[papal primacy]] was further recognised as promulgated in [[Canon law of the Catholic Church|Canon law]]. In 728, the Holy See was granted territory in the [[Duchy of Rome]] by the [[Donation of Sutri]] by [[List of kings of the Lombards|King]] [[Liutprand, King of the Lombards|Liutprand]] of the [[Lombards]]. In 756, it was granted [[sovereignty]] by the territorial [[Donation of Pepin]], by [[List of Frankish kings|King]] [[Pepin the Short|Pepin]] of the [[Franks]].
-The sovereignty of the Holy See was retained despite multiple [[Sack of Rome (disambiguation)|sacks of Rome]] during the Early Middle Ages. Relations with the [[Kingdom of Italy (Holy Roman Empire)|Kingdom of Italy]] and the Holy Roman Empire were at times strained, reaching from the ''[[Diploma Ottonianum]]'' and ''[[Libellus de imperatoria potestate in urbe Roma]]'' regarding the "[[Patrimony of Saint Peter]]" in the 10th century, to the [[Investiture Controversy]] in 1076–1122, and settled again by the [[Concordat of Worms]] in 1122.
+From 756 to 1870, the [[Papal States]] held extensive territory and armed forces. In 800, [[Pope Leo III]] [[Coronation of the Holy Roman Emperor|crowned]] [[Charlemagne]] as [[Holy Roman Emperor|Roman Emperor]] by ''[[translatio imperii]]''. The Pope's [[Temporal power (papal)|temporal power]] peaked around the time of the [[papal coronation]]s of the emperors of the [[Holy Roman Empire]] from 858, and the ''[[Dictatus papae]]'' in 1075, which conversely also described [[Papal deposing power]]. Several modern states trace their own sovereignty to recognition in medieval papal bulls. The sovereignty of the Holy See was retained despite multiple [[Sack of Rome (disambiguation)|sacks of Rome]] during the Early Middle Ages. Relations with the [[Kingdom of Italy (Holy Roman Empire)|Kingdom of Italy]] and the Holy Roman Empire were at times strained, reaching from the ''[[Diploma Ottonianum]]'' and ''[[Libellus de imperatoria potestate in urbe Roma]]'' regarding the "[[Patrimony of Saint Peter]]" in the 10th century, to the [[Investiture Controversy]] in 1076–1122, and settled again by the [[Concordat of Worms]] in 1122. The exiled [[Avignon Papacy]] during 1309–1376 also put a strain on the papacy, which returned to Rome. In 1648, [[Pope Innocent X]] was critical of the [[Peace of Westphalia]], as it weakened the authority of the Holy See throughout much of Europe. From 1798 to 1799, following the [[French Revolution]], the Papal States were briefly occupied as the "[[Roman Republic (18th century)|Roman Republic]]", as a [[sister republic]] of the [[First French Empire]] under [[Napoleon and the Catholic Church|Napoleon]], before their territory was reestablished.
-The exiled [[Avignon Papacy]] during 1309–1376 also put a strain on the papacy, which returned to Rome. In 1648, [[Pope Innocent X]] was critical of the [[Peace of Westphalia]], as it weakened the authority of the Holy See throughout much of Europe. From 1798 to 1799, following the [[French Revolution]], the Papal States were briefly occupied as the "[[Roman Republic (18th century)|Roman Republic]]", as a [[sister republic]] of the [[First French Empire]] under [[Napoleon and the Catholic Church|Napoleon]], before their territory was reestablished.
+The Holy See was represented in and identified as a "permanent subject of general customary international law vis-à-vis all states" in the [[Congress of Vienna]] (1814–1815).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.open-diplomacy.eu/blog/moral-diplomacy-of-the-holy-see-multi-level-diplomacy-of-a-tr |title='Moral Diplomacy' of the Holy See: Multi-Level Diplomacy of a Transnational Actor |access-date=14 September 2018 |archive-date=14 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180914132318/http://www.open-diplomacy.eu/blog/moral-diplomacy-of-the-holy-see-multi-level-diplomacy-of-a-tr |url-status=dead}}</ref> The Papal States were recognised under the rule of the Papacy and largely restored to their former extent. Despite the [[Capture of Rome]] in 1870 by the [[Kingdom of Italy]] and the [[Roman Question]] during the [[Vatican during the Savoyard era (1870–1929)|Savoyard era]], which made the Pope a "[[prisoner in the Vatican]]" from 1870 to 1929, its international legal subject was "constituted by the ongoing reciprocity of diplomatic relationships" that not only were maintained but multiplied. In 1929, the [[Lateran Treaty]] between the Holy See and Italy recognised Vatican City as an independent [[city-state]], along with extraterritorial [[Properties of the Holy See|properties around the region]]. Since then, Vatican City is distinct from yet under "full ownership, exclusive [[dominion]], and [[sovereignty|sovereign authority]] and [[jurisdiction]]" of the Holy See ({{langx|la|Sancta Sedes}}).{{NoteTag|The Holy See is the central governing body of the Catholic Church and a sovereign entity recognized by international law, consisting of the Pope and the [[Roman Curia]]. It is also commonly referred to as "the Vatican", especially when used as a [[metonym]] for the [[hierarchy of the Catholic Church]].}}<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-01-13 |title=Treaty Between the Holy See and Italy |url=https://www.rightofassembly.info/assets/downloads/1929_Lateran_Treaty.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240113124504/https://www.rightofassembly.info/assets/downloads/1929_Lateran_Treaty.pdf |archive-date=2024-01-13 |website=rightofassembly.info |at=Article 03}}</ref>
-The Holy See was represented in and identified as a "permanent subject of general customary international law vis-à-vis all states" in the [[Congress of Vienna]] (1814–1815).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.open-diplomacy.eu/blog/moral-diplomacy-of-the-holy-see-multi-level-diplomacy-of-a-tr |title='Moral Diplomacy' of the Holy See: Multi-Level Diplomacy of a Transnational Actor |access-date=14 September 2018 |archive-date=14 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180914132318/http://www.open-diplomacy.eu/blog/moral-diplomacy-of-the-holy-see-multi-level-diplomacy-of-a-tr |url-status=dead}}</ref> The Papal States were recognised under the rule of the Papacy and largely restored to their former extent. Despite the [[Capture of Rome]] in 1870 by the [[Kingdom of Italy]] and the [[Roman Question]] during the [[Vatican during the Savoyard era (1870–1929)|Savoyard era]], which made the Pope a "[[prisoner in the Vatican]]" from 1870 to 1929, its international legal subject was "constituted by the ongoing reciprocity of diplomatic relationships" that not only were maintained but multiplied.
-In 1929, the [[Lateran Treaty]] between the Holy See and Italy recognised Vatican City as an independent [[city-state]], along with extraterritorial [[Properties of the Holy See|properties around the region]]. Since then, Vatican City is distinct from yet under "full ownership, exclusive [[dominion]], and [[sovereignty|sovereign authority]] and [[jurisdiction]]" of the Holy See ({{langx|la|Sancta Sedes}}).{{NoteTag|The Holy See is the central governing body of the Catholic Church and a sovereign entity recognized by international law, consisting of the Pope and the [[Roman Curia]]. It is also commonly referred to as "the Vatican", especially when used as a [[metonym]] for the [[hierarchy of the Catholic Church]].}}<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-01-13 |title=Treaty Between the Holy See and Italy |url=https://www.rightofassembly.info/assets/downloads/1929_Lateran_Treaty.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240113124504/https://www.rightofassembly.info/assets/downloads/1929_Lateran_Treaty.pdf |archive-date=2024-01-13 |website=rightofassembly.info |at=Article 03}}</ref>
 == Organization ==
-{{Catholic Church sidebar| Organisation}}
 {{main|Roman Curia}}
 {{update|date=July 2025}}
-The Holy See is one of the last remaining seven [[Absolute monarchy|absolute monarchies]] in the world, along with [[Saudi Arabia]], [[Eswatini]], [[United Arab Emirates]], [[Qatar]], [[Brunei]] and [[Oman]].<ref name="factbook">{{cite web |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/holy-see-vatican-city/ |title=CIA's factbook Vatican State |date=16 February 2022 |access-date=25 January 2021 |archive-date=26 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220126204237/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/holy-see-vatican-city/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.vaticanstate.va/content/vaticanstate/en/stato-e-governo.html |title=State and Government |website=www.vaticanstate.va |access-date=1 April 2018 |archive-date=31 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180331104125/http://www.vaticanstate.va/content/vaticanstate/en/stato-e-governo.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://storiesofworld.com/people-seven-nations-live-absolute-monarchy-click-know-nations/ |title=These 7 nations are ruled by an absolute monarchy! |date=22 December 2015 |work=Stories of World|access-date=1 April 2018 |language=en-US|archive-date=2 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180402101211/https://storiesofworld.com/people-seven-nations-live-absolute-monarchy-click-know-nations/|url-status=dead}}</ref> The Pope governs the Catholic Church through the [[Roman Curia]]. The Curia is a complex of offices that administer church affairs at the highest level, including the [[Secretariat of State (Vatican)|Secretariat of State]], nine [[Congregation (Roman Curia)|Congregations]], three [[Ecclesiastical court|Tribunals]], eleven Pontifical Councils, and seven Pontifical Commissions.
+{{Catholic Church sidebar| Organisation}}
+The Holy See is one of the last remaining seven [[Absolute monarchy|absolute monarchies]] in the world, along with [[Saudi Arabia]], [[Eswatini]], [[United Arab Emirates]], [[Qatar]], [[Brunei]] and [[Oman]].<ref name="factbook">{{cite web |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/holy-see-vatican-city/ |title=CIA's factbook Vatican State |date=16 February 2022 |access-date=25 January 2021 |archive-date=26 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220126204237/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/holy-see-vatican-city/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.vaticanstate.va/content/vaticanstate/en/stato-e-governo.html |title=State and Government |website=www.vaticanstate.va |access-date=1 April 2018 |archive-date=31 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180331104125/http://www.vaticanstate.va/content/vaticanstate/en/stato-e-governo.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://storiesofworld.com/people-seven-nations-live-absolute-monarchy-click-know-nations/ |title=These 7 nations are ruled by an absolute monarchy! |date=22 December 2015 |work=Stories of World|access-date=1 April 2018 |language=en-US|archive-date=2 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180402101211/https://storiesofworld.com/people-seven-nations-live-absolute-monarchy-click-know-nations/|url-status=dead}}</ref> The Pope governs the Catholic Church through the [[Roman Curia]]. The Curia is a complex of offices that administer church affairs at the highest level, including the [[Secretariat of State (Vatican)|Secretariat of State]], nineteen [[dicasteries]], three [[Ecclesiastical court|Tribunals]], eleven Pontifical Councils, and seven Pontifical Commissions.
 The Secretariat of State, under the [[Cardinal Secretary of State]], directs and coordinates the Curia. The incumbent, Cardinal Pietro Parolin,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://attualita.vatican.va/sala-stampa/bollettino/2013/08/31/news/31610.html |title=Dichiarazione Di S.E. Mons. Pietro Parolin in Occasione della sua Nomina a Segretario di Stato |access-date=28 October 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130922060821/http://attualita.vatican.va/sala-stampa/bollettino/2013/08/31/news/31610.html |archive-date=22 September 2013}}</ref> is the See's equivalent of a prime minister. [[Archbishop]] [[Paul Gallagher (bishop)|Paul Gallagher]], Secretary of the Section for Relations with States of the Secretariat of State, acts as the Holy See's [[minister of foreign affairs]]. Parolin was named in his role by Pope Francis on 31 August 2013.
@@ Line 100: / Line 96: @@
 The Secretariat of State is the only body of the Curia that is situated within Vatican City. The others are in buildings in different parts of Rome that have extraterritorial rights similar to those of embassies.
-Among the most active of the major Curial institutions are the [[Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith]], which oversees the Catholic Church's doctrine; the [[Congregation for Bishops]], which coordinates the appointment of bishops worldwide; the [[Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples]], which oversees all missionary activities; and the [[Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace]], which deals with international peace and social issues.
+Among the most active of the major Curial institutions are the [[Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith]], which oversees the Catholic Church's doctrine; the [[Dicastery for Bishops]], which coordinates the appointment of bishops worldwide; the [[Dicastery for Evangelization]], which oversees all missionary activities; and the [[Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development]], which deals with international peace and social issues.
 Three tribunals exercise judicial power. The [[Roman Rota]] handles normal judicial appeals, the most numerous being those that concern alleged nullity of marriage.<ref>[https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P5G.HTM Code of Canon Law, canons 1443–1444] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100108061657/https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P5G.HTM |date=8 January 2010 }}. The Holy See. Retrieved 11 September 2011.</ref> The [[Apostolic Signatura]] is the supreme appellate and administrative court concerning decisions even of the [[Roman Rota]] and administrative decisions of ecclesiastical superiors (bishops and superiors of [[religious institute]]s), such as closing a parish or removing someone from office. It also oversees the work of other ecclesiastical tribunals at all levels.<ref>[https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P5G.HTM Code of Canon Law, canon 1445] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100108061657/https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P5G.HTM |date=8 January 2010 }}. The Holy See. Retrieved 11 September 2011.</ref>
@@ Line 114: / Line 110: @@
 The Holy See does not dissolve upon a pope's death or resignation. It instead operates under a different set of laws ''[[sede vacante]]''. During this [[interregnum]], the heads of the dicasteries of the Curia, such as the prefects of congregations, cease immediately to hold office. The only exceptions are the [[Major Penitentiary]], who continues his important role regarding absolutions and dispensations, and the [[Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church]], who administers the [[temporalities]] (''i.e.'', properties and finances) of the See of St. Peter during this period. The government of the See, and therefore of the Catholic Church, then falls to the [[College of Cardinals]]. [[Canon law (Catholic Church)|Canon law]] prohibits the [[College of Cardinals|College]] and the Camerlengo from introducing any innovations or novelties in the government of the church during this period.
-In 2001, the Holy See had a revenue of 422.098&nbsp;billion [[Italian lire]], about US$202&nbsp;million at the time, and a net income of 17.720&nbsp;billion Italian lire, about US$8&nbsp;million.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080828074951/http://www.zenit.org/article-1900?l=english "Economic Report of the Holy See for 2000"] Zenit 6 July 2001</ref> According to an article by David Leigh in the ''Guardian'' newspaper, a 2012 report from the Council of Europe identified the value of a section of the Vatican's property assets as an amount in excess of €680m (£570m). In January 2013, Paolo Mennini, a papal official in Rome, managed this portion of the Holy See's assets—consisting of British investments, other European holdings and a currency trading arm. The ''Guardian'' newspaper described Mennini and his role in the following manner: "...&nbsp;Paolo Mennini, who is in effect the Pope's [[merchant bank]]er. Mennini heads a special unit inside the Vatican called the extraordinary division of APSA – ''Amministrazione del Patrimonio della Sede Apostolica'' – which handles the 'patrimony of the Holy See'."<ref>{{cite news |title=How the Vatican built a secret property empire using Mussolini's millions |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/jan/21/vatican-secret-property-empire-mussolini |access-date=23 January 2013 |newspaper=The Guardian |date=21 January 2013 |author=David Leigh |archive-date=2 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161202103311/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/jan/21/vatican-secret-property-empire-mussolini |url-status=live }}</ref>
+In 2001, the Holy See had a revenue of 422.098&nbsp;billion [[Italian lire]], about US$202&nbsp;million at the time, and a net income of 17.720&nbsp;billion Italian lire, about US$8&nbsp;million.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080828074951/http://www.zenit.org/article-1900?l=english "Economic Report of the Holy See for 2000"] Zenit 6 July 2001</ref> According to an article by David Leigh in the ''Guardian'' newspaper, a 2012 report from the Council of Europe identified the value of a section of the Vatican's property assets as an amount in excess of €680m (£570m). In January 2013, Paolo Mennini, a papal official in Rome, managed this portion of the Holy See's assets—consisting of British investments, other European holdings and a currency trading arm. The ''Guardian'' newspaper described Mennini and his role in the following manner: "...&nbsp;Paolo Mennini, who is in effect the Pope's [[merchant bank]]er. Mennini heads a special unit inside the Vatican called the extraordinary division of APSA – ''Amministrazione del Patrimonio della Sede Apostolica'' – which handles the 'patrimony of the Holy See'."<ref>{{cite news |title=How the Vatican built a secret property empire using Mussolini's millions |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/jan/21/vatican-secret-property-empire-mussolini |access-date=23 January 2013 |newspaper=The Guardian |date=21 January 2013 |author-first1=David |author-last1=Leigh |archive-date=2 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161202103311/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/jan/21/vatican-secret-property-empire-mussolini |url-status=live }}</ref>
 The [[orders, decorations, and medals of the Holy See]] are conferred by the Pope as temporal sovereign and ''[[fons honorum]]'' of the Holy See, similar to the orders awarded by other [[heads of state]].
@@ Line 120: / Line 116: @@
 == Status in international law ==
 {{Main|Legal status of the Holy See}}
-The Holy See has been recognized, both in state practice and in the writing of modern legal scholars, as a subject of [[public international law]], with rights and duties analogous to those of [[Sovereign state|States]]. Although the Holy See, as distinct from the Vatican City State, does not fulfill the long-established criteria in international law of [[Sovereign state|statehood]]—having a permanent population, a defined territory, a stable government, and the capacity to enter into relations with other states<ref>These criteria for statehood were first authoritatively enunciated at the [[Montevideo Convention]] on Rights and Duties of States, signed by American states on 26 December 1933.</ref>—its possession of full legal personality in [[international law]] is shown by the fact that it maintains [[diplomatic relations]] with 180<ref name="DipRel">{{cite web |url=https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/secretariat_state/documents/rc_seg-st_20010123_holy-see-relations_en.html |title=Bilateral and Multilateral Relations of the Holy See, update on October 22, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140709142833/https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/secretariat_state/documents/rc_seg-st_20010123_holy-see-relations_en.html |archive-date=9 July 2014}}</ref> states, that it is a ''member-state''<ref>e.g. [http://www.iaea.org/About/Policy/MemberStates/ IAEA] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071212170611/http://www.iaea.org/About/Policy/MemberStates/ |date=12 December 2007 }}, [http://www.osce.org/who/83 OSCE] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140708145624/http://www.osce.org/who/83 |date=8 July 2014 }}, [http://www.iom.int/cms/en/sites/iom/home/about-iom-1/members-and-observers/governments/member-states.html IOM] </ref> in various [[Intergovernmental organizations|intergovernmental international organizations]], and that it is: "respected by the international community of sovereign States and treated as a subject of international law having the capacity to engage in diplomatic relations and to enter into binding agreements with one, several, or many states under [[international law]] that are largely geared to establish and preserving peace in the world."<ref>[[Robert Araujo (Jurist)|Robert Araujo]] and John Lucal, Papal Diplomacy and the Quest for Peace, the Vatican and International Organizations from the early years to the [[League of Nations]], Sapienza Press (2004), {{ISBN|1-932589-01-5}}, p. 16. ''See also'' James Crawford, The Creation of States in International Law, (1979) p. 154.</ref>
+The Holy See has been recognized, both in state practice and in the writing of modern legal scholars, as a subject of [[public international law]], with rights and duties analogous to those of [[Sovereign state|States]]. Although the Holy See, as distinct from the Vatican City State, does not fulfill the long-established criteria in international law of [[Sovereign state|statehood]]—having a permanent population, a defined territory, a stable government, and the capacity to enter into relations with other states<ref>These criteria for statehood were first authoritatively enunciated at the [[Montevideo Convention]] on Rights and Duties of States, signed by American states on 26 December 1933. {{cite web |title=Montevideo Convention |url=https://www.britannica.com/event/Montevideo-Convention |website=Encyclopedia Britannica}}</ref>—its possession of full legal personality in [[international law]] is shown by the fact that it maintains [[diplomatic relations]] with 180<ref name="DipRel">{{cite web |url=https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/secretariat_state/documents/rc_seg-st_20010123_holy-see-relations_en.html |title=Bilateral and Multilateral Relations of the Holy See, update on October 22, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140709142833/https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/secretariat_state/documents/rc_seg-st_20010123_holy-see-relations_en.html |archive-date=9 July 2014}}</ref> states, that it is a ''member-state''<ref>e.g. [http://www.iaea.org/About/Policy/MemberStates/ IAEA] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071212170611/http://www.iaea.org/About/Policy/MemberStates/ |date=12 December 2007 }}, [http://www.osce.org/who/83 OSCE] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140708145624/http://www.osce.org/who/83 |date=8 July 2014 }}, [http://www.iom.int/cms/en/sites/iom/home/about-iom-1/members-and-observers/governments/member-states.html IOM] </ref> in various [[Intergovernmental organizations|intergovernmental international organizations]], and that it is: "respected by the international community of sovereign States and treated as a subject of international law having the capacity to engage in diplomatic relations and to enter into binding agreements with one, several, or many states under [[international law]] that are largely geared to establish and preserving peace in the world."<ref>[[Robert Araujo (Jurist)|Robert Araujo]] and John Lucal, Papal Diplomacy and the Quest for Peace, the Vatican and International Organizations from the early years to the [[League of Nations]], Sapienza Press (2004), {{ISBN|1-932589-01-5}}, p. 16. ''See also'' James Crawford, The Creation of States in International Law, (1979) p. 154.</ref>
 === Diplomacy ===
@@ Line 126: / Line 122: @@
 {{further|Diplomatic missions of the Holy See|Holy See and the United Nations|Multilateral foreign policy of the Holy See}}
-[[File:Holy See relations.svg|thumb|upright=2.25|Foreign relations with the Holy See: {{legend|#008000|Diplomatic relations}}
+[[File:Holy See relations.svg|thumb|upright=1.6|Foreign relations with the Holy See: {{legend|#008000|Diplomatic relations}}
 {{legend|#00ff00|Other relations}}
 {{legend|#999999|No relations}}]]
@@ Line 146: / Line 142: @@
 The State of the Vatican City was created by the [[Lateran Treaty]] in 1929 to "ensure the absolute and visible independence of the Holy See" and "to guarantee to it indisputable sovereignty in international affairs." Archbishop [[Jean-Louis Tauran]], the Holy See's former Secretary for Relations with States, said that Vatican City is a "minuscule support-state that guarantees the spiritual freedom of the Pope with the minimum territory".<ref>[https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/secretariat_state/documents/rc_seg-st_doc_20020422_tauran_en.html Lecture by Archbishop Jean-Louis Tauran, 22 April 2002] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140215051159/https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/secretariat_state/documents/rc_seg-st_doc_20020422_tauran_en.html |date=15 February 2014 }}. The Holy See. Retrieved 11 September 2011.</ref>
-The Holy See, not Vatican City, maintains diplomatic relations with states.<ref>[https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/secretariat_state/documents/rc_seg-st_20010123_holy-see-relations_en.html Bilateral and Multilateral Relations of the Holy See] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140709142833/https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/secretariat_state/documents/rc_seg-st_20010123_holy-see-relations_en.html |date=9 July 2014 }}. The Holy See. Retrieved 11 September 2011.</ref> Foreign embassies are accredited to the Holy See, not to Vatican City, and it is the Holy See that establishes treaties and [[concordat]]s with other sovereign entities. When necessary, the Holy See will enter a treaty on behalf of Vatican City.
+The Holy See, not Vatican City, maintains diplomatic relations with states.<ref>[https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/secretariat_state/documents/rc_seg-st_20010123_holy-see-relations_en.html Bilateral and Multilateral Relations of the Holy See] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140709142833/https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/secretariat_state/documents/rc_seg-st_20010123_holy-see-relations_en.html |date=9 July 2014 }}. The Holy See. Retrieved 11 September 2011.</ref> Foreign embassies are accredited to the Holy See, not to Vatican City, and it is the Holy See that establishes treaties and [[concordat]]s with other sovereign entities. When necessary, the Holy See will enter into a treaty on behalf of Vatican City.
 Under the terms of the Lateran Treaty, the Holy See has extraterritorial authority over [[Properties of the Holy See|various sites in Rome and two Italian sites outside of Rome]], including the [[Papal Palace of Castel Gandolfo|Pontifical Palace at Castel Gandolfo]]. The same authority is extended under international law over the [[Apostolic Nunciature]] of the Holy See in a foreign country.
@@ Line 154: / Line 150: @@
 [[File:Vatikanoko guardia suitzarra, Lurdako Gure Amaren Santutegian.jpg|thumb|200px|The [[Swiss Guard]] on patrol]]
-Like various European powers, earlier popes recruited Swiss mercenaries as part of an army. The [[Pontifical Swiss Guard]] was founded by [[Pope Julius II]] in January 1506 as the personal bodyguards of the Pope and continues to fulfill that function.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.swissguard.va/index.php?id=258&L=3|archive-url=https://archive.today/20131030094000/http://www.swissguard.va/index.php?id=258&L=3|url-status=dead |title=Päpstliche Schweizergarde: 1506 Foundation |date=30 October 2013|archive-date=30 October 2013}}</ref> It is listed in the ''[[Annuario Pontificio]]'' under "Holy See", not under "State of Vatican City".<ref>''Annuario Pontificio 2013'' (Libreria Editrice Vaticana 2013), p. 1269</ref>
+Like various European powers, earlier popes recruited Swiss mercenaries as part of an army. The [[Pontifical Swiss Guard]] was founded by [[Pope Julius II]] in January 1506 as the personal bodyguards of the Pope and continues to fulfill that function.<ref>{{cite web |title=Päpstliche Schweizergarde: History |url=https://schweizergarde.ch/paepstliche-schweizergarde/en/about-us/history/ |website=schweizergarde.ch}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Pontifical Swiss Guard Pontifical Swiss Guard Profile |url=https://www.vatican.va/content/romancuria/en/guardia-svizzera-pontificia/corpo-della-guardia-svizzera-pontificia/profilo.html |website=www.vatican.va}}</ref> It is listed in the ''[[Annuario Pontificio]]'' under "Holy See", not under "State of Vatican City".<ref>''Annuario Pontificio 2013'' (Libreria Editrice Vaticana 2013), p. 1269</ref>
-In 2005, the Guard had 134 members. Recruitment is arranged by a special agreement between the Holy See and Switzerland. All recruits must be Catholic, unmarried males with Swiss citizenship who have completed basic training with the [[Swiss Armed Forces]] with certificates of good conduct, be between the ages of 19 and 30,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.swissguard.va/index.php?id=265&L=3 | archive-url=https://archive.today/20130421222339/http://www.swissguard.va/index.php?id=265&L=3 | url-status=dead | archive-date=21 April 2013 |title=Päpstliche Schweizergarde: Conditions |date=21 April 2013}}</ref> and be at least {{convert|175|cm|ftin|abbr=off}} in height.
+As of 2026, the Guard has a fixed number of a 135 members.<ref>{{cite web |title=Pontifical Swiss Guard Pontifical Swiss Guard Structure |url=https://www.vatican.va/content/romancuria/en/guardia-svizzera-pontificia/corpo-della-guardia-svizzera-pontificia/struttura.html |website=www.vatican.va}}</ref> Recruitment is arranged by a special agreement between the Holy See and Switzerland. All recruits must be Catholic, unmarried males with Swiss citizenship who have completed basic training with the [[Swiss Armed Forces]] with certificates of good conduct, be between the ages of 19 and 30, and be at least {{convert|175|cm|ftin|abbr=off}} in height.<ref>{{cite web |title=Päpstliche Schweizergarde: Les conditions |url=https://schweizergarde.ch/en/paepstliche-schweizergarde/fr/devenir-garde/les-conditions/ |website=schweizergarde.ch}}</ref>
-Members are armed with small arms and the traditional [[halberd]], also called the Swiss [[voulge]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.knightsedge.com/s-99-swiss-voulge.aspx|title=Swiss Voulge – Also Called Halberd or Halbert|website=www.knightsedge.com|accessdate=5 March 2023|archive-date=5 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230305044518/https://www.knightsedge.com/s-99-swiss-voulge.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref> and trained in bodyguarding tactics.<ref>See videos at [https://archive.today/20131030093955/http://www.swissguard.va/index.php?id=252&L=3 Pontifical Swiss Guards, Gallery]</ref>
+Members are armed with small arms and the traditional [[halberd]], and trained in bodyguarding tactics.<ref>{{cite web |title=Päpstliche Schweizergarde: Formazione |url=https://schweizergarde.ch/en/paepstliche-schweizergarde/it/diventare-guardia/formazione/ |website=schweizergarde.ch}}</ref>
 The police force in Vatican City, known as the [[Corps of Gendarmerie of Vatican City]], belongs to the city state, not to the Holy See.
@@ Line 206: / Line 202: @@
 * {{cite book |last=Norwich |first=John Julius |author-link=John Julius Norwich |title=The Popes: A History |year=2011 |publisher=Chatto & Windus |location=London |isbn=978-0-7011-8290-8}}
 * {{cite book |title=Saints and Sinners, a History of the Popes |last=Duffy |first=Eamon|author-link=Eamon Duffy |year=1997 |publisher=Yale University Press |isbn=978-0-300-07332-4 |url=https://archive.org/details/saintssinnershis00duff}}
-* {{cite book |last=Durant |first=William James |author-link=Will Durant |title=The Story of Civilization |volume=IV. The Age of Faith: A History of Medieval Civilization – Christian, Islamic, and Judaic – from Constantine to Dante, A.D. 325–1300 |year=1950 |publisher=Simon & Schuster |location=New York |isbn=978-0-671-01200-7 |title-link=The Age of Faith}}
+* {{cite book |last=Durant |first=William James |author-link=Will Durant |title=The Story of Civilization |volume=IV. The Age of Faith: A History of Medieval Civilization – Christian, Islamic, and Judaic – from Constantine to Dante, A.D. 325–1300 |orig-year=1950 |year=1980 |publisher=Simon & Schuster |location=New York |isbn=978-0-671-01200-7 |title-link=The Age of Faith}}
-* {{cite book |last=Durant |first=William James |author-link=Will Durant |title=The Story of Civilization |volume=VI. The Reformation |year=1957 |publisher=Simon & Schuster |location=New York |isbn=978-0-671-61050-0 |title-link=The Reformation (Story of Civilization)}}
+* {{cite book |last=Durant |first=William James |author-link=Will Durant |title=The Story of Civilization |volume=VI. The Reformation |orig-year=1957 |year=1980 |publisher=Simon & Schuster |location=New York |isbn=978-0-671-61050-0 |title-link=The Reformation (Story of Civilization)}}
 * {{cite book |last1=Franzen |first1=August |author2=Dolan, John |title=A History of the Church |publisher=Herder and Herder |year=1969}}
 * {{cite book |last=Granfield |first=Patrick |title=The Limits of the Papacy: Authority and Autonomy in the Church |year=1987 |publisher=Crossroad |location=New York |isbn=978-0-8245-0839-5 |url=https://archive.org/details/limitsofpapacy00gran}}
@@ Line 215: / Line 211: @@
 * {{cite book |last=Kerr |first=William Shaw |author-link=William Kerr (bishop) |title=A Handbook on the Papacy |year=1950 |publisher=Marshall, Morgan & Scott |location=London |oclc=51018118}}
 * {{cite book |title=The Catholic Church: A Short History |last=Küng |first=Hans|author-link=Hans Küng |year=2003 |publisher=Random House |isbn=978-0-8129-6762-3 |url=https://archive.org/details/catholicchurch00sama}}
-* {{cite book |author=Loomis, Louise Ropes |title=The Book of the Popes (Liber Pontificalis): To the Pontificate of Gregory I |publisher=Evolution Publishing |location=Merchantville, New Jersey |orig-year=1916 |year=2006 |isbn=978-1-889758-86-2}}
+* {{cite book |author-last1=Loomis|author-first1= Louise Ropes |title=The Book of the Popes (Liber Pontificalis): To the Pontificate of Gregory I |publisher=Evolution Publishing |location=Merchantville, New Jersey |orig-year=1916 |year=2006 |isbn=978-1-889758-86-2}}
 * {{cite book |last1=Noble |first1=Thomas |author2=Strauss, Barry |title=Western Civilization |year=2005 |publisher=Houghton Mifflin |isbn=978-0-618-43277-6}}
 * {{cite book |title=A Short History of the Catholic Church |last=Orlandis |first=José|author-link=José Orlandis |year=1993 |publisher=Scepter |isbn=978-1-85182-125-9}}
@@ Line 227: / Line 223: @@
 * [https://www.youtube.com/@VaticanNewsEN Vatican News] on [[YouTube]]
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+{{Europe topic|Government of|title=Governments of Europe}}
-}}
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+{{DEFAULTSORT:Vatican City (Holy See)}}
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-[[Category:European governments]]
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+[[Category:United Nations General Assembly observers]]

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Holy See: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 12:48, 29 May 2026

Contents

Terminology

History

Organization

Status in international law

Diplomacy

Relationship with Vatican City and other territories

Military

Coat of arms

See also

Notes

References

Further reading

External links

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Holy See: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 12:48, 29 May 2026

Terminology

History

Organization

Status in international law

Diplomacy

Relationship with Vatican City and other territories

Military

Coat of arms

See also

Notes

References

Further reading

External links

Navigation menu

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