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Vatican City

What is vatican city?

· Sarah Mitchell

Key facts

Official name State of the Vatican City[1]
Location Rome, Italy[1]
Area 44 hectares[1]
Population 882[1]
Government Papacy[3]

Vatican City is an independent city-state in Rome, Italy, serving as the seat of the Roman Catholic Church and the residence of the pope.

Context

Vatican City is an independent city-state in Rome, Italy, and it is the seat of the Roman Catholic Church and the residence of the pope [1]. It is the smallest sovereign state in the world by area and population [1]. The official name is the State of the Vatican City [1]. Its area is 44 hectares and its population is 882 [1]. The government is the papacy [3]. The pope has absolute executive, legislative, and judicial powers within the city [2]. The Vatican and the Holy See are separate in government organs [2].

Documented claims

  • Vatican City is the smallest sovereign state in the world by area and population. [1]
  • The pope has absolute executive, legislative, and judicial powers within the city. [2]
  • The Vatican and the Holy See are separate in government organs. [2]

Questions and answers

What is the official name of Vatican City?

The official name is the State of the Vatican City [1].

How large is Vatican City?

It covers 44 hectares [1].

Who governs Vatican City?

The pope has absolute executive, legislative, and judicial powers [2].

Sources

  1. Vatican City - Kids — kids.britannica.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  2. 10 Vatican City Facts You Didn't Know — thevaticantickets.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  3. Vatican City Facts — softschools.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)

Sources last checked August 3, 2026. · More in Places