Vaticanos

Vaticanos refers to the Vatican, the smallest independent state by area and population, and to the Holy See, the jurisdiction of the Catholic Church. It is an enclave within Rome, Italy. The Vatican City State was created in 1929 by the Lateran Treaties, which recognized it as a separate sovereign entity. The Holy See remains a distinct juridical personality that maintains international relations and diplomacy for the Catholic Church, while Vatican City provides the physical territory and administrative framework.

The Pope is the head of state and the spiritual leader of the Catholic Church. In practice, governance of Vatican City State is carried out by the Governorate of Vatican City State under the authority of the Holy See, with the Pope presiding over its institutions. The state has its own civil and criminal law, post and fiscal systems, and the Pontifical Gendarmerie for internal security. The population of Vatican City is around 800 residents, many of whom are clergy, religious, or staff serving the Holy See; a larger workforce comes from outside the city-state, primarily Italy and other countries.

Vaticano hosts some of the church’s most important sites, including St. Peter’s Basilica, the Apostolic Palace, and the Vatican Museums, which contain the Sistine Chapel ceiling. It plays a central role in global religion, art, and culture, and receives millions of visitors annually.

Its economy is sustained by contributions from Catholic institutions, tourism, and the sale of stamps and coins, as well as the operation of media and publishing enterprises. The official language of administration is Italian, with Latin used in some ceremonial and legal contexts.