The Government of Vatican City

Vatican City - Government

Based on the etymolgy of Vatican City, it was "holy" comes from the Greek word "hera" meaning "sacred"; "see" comes from the Latin word "sedes" meaning "seat," and refers to the episcopal chair; the term "Vatican" derives from the hill Mons Vaticanus on which the Vatican is located and which comes from the Latin "vaticinari" (to prophesy), referring to the fortune tellers and soothsayers who frequented the area in Roman times. The Government system in this country is the ecclesiastical elective monarchy; self-described as an "absolute monarchy" type and the different Administrative divisions includes: none

National symbols

Crossed keys beneath a papal tiara; national colors: yellow, white.

The flag

The National flag of Vatican City has two vertical bands of yellow (hoist side) and white with the arms of the Holy See, consisting of the crossed keys of Saint Peter surmounted by the three-tiered papal tiara, centered in the white band; the yellow color represents the pope's spiritual power, the white his worldly power.

The National Anthem

Title	"Inno e Marcia Pontificale" (Hymn and Pontifical March); often called The Pontifical Hymn
Lyric/music	Raffaello LAVAGNA/Charles-Francois GOUNOD

note: adopted 1950

More about the government of Vatican City

Constitution
Date of Independence	11 February 1929; note - the three treaties signed with Italy on 11 February 1929 acknowledged, among other things, the full sovereignty of the Holy See and established its territorial extent; however, the origin of the Papal States, which over centuries varied considerably in extent, may be traced back to A.D. 754
National holiday	Election Day of Pope FRANCIS, 13 March (2013)
Legal system	religious legal system based on canon (religious) law
International law organization participation	has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
History	Previous 1929, 2000; latest issued by Pope FRANCIS 13 May 2023, effective 7 June 2023 (Fundamental Law of Vatican City State, the main governing document of the Vatican's civil entities); the Roman Curia is the administrative apparatus – the departments and ministries – used by the pontiff in governing the church; note - Pope Francis in October 2013, instituted a 9-member Council of Cardinal Advisers to reform the Roman Curia to include writing a new constitution; in June 2018, Pope Francis approved the Council of Cardinals' first draft of the new apostolic constitution, Predicate Evangelium (Preach the Gospel); it became effective 5 June 2022, replacing Pastor Bonus, the previous governing document of the Roman Curia
Amendments	Note - although the Fundamental Law of Vatican City State makes no mention of amendments, Article Four (drafting laws), states that this legislative responsibility resides with the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State; draft legislation is submitted through the Secretariat of State and considered by the pope
Citizenship
Citizenship by birth	no
Citizenship by descent only	no
Dual citizenship recognized	no
Residency requirement for naturalization	not applicable
Executive Branch
Chief of state	Pope FRANCIS (since 13 March 2013)
Head of government	President of the Pontifical Commission for the State of Vatican City and President of the Governorate of the Vatican City State Fernando VERGEZ ALZAGA (since 1 October 2021)
Cabinet	Pontifical Commission for the State of Vatican City appointed by the pope
Elections/appointments	pope elected by the College of Cardinals, usually for life or until voluntary resignation; election last held on 13 March 2013 after the resignation of Pope BENEDICT XVI (next to be held after the death or resignation of the current pope); Secretary of State appointed by the pope
Election results	2013: Jorge Mario BERGOGLIO, former Archbishop of Buenos Aires, elected Pope FRANCIS
Legislative branch
Description	Unicameral Pontifical Commission for the State of Vatican City or Pontificia Commissione per lo Stato della Citta del Vaticano; 7 seats appointed by the pope
Elections	Appointment dates vary
Election results	Composition - men 6, woman 1
Judicial branch
Highest court(s)	Supreme Court or Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura (consists of the cardinal prefect, who serves as ex-officio president of the court, and 2 other cardinals of the Prefect Signatura); note - judicial duties were established by the Motu Proprio, papal directive, of Pope PIUS XII on 1 May 1946; most Vatican City criminal matters are handled by the Republic of Italy courts
Judge selection and term of office	Cardinal prefect appointed by the pope; the other 2 cardinals of the court appointed by the cardinal prefect on a yearly basis
Subordinate courts	Appellate Court of Vatican City; Tribunal of Vatican City
Diplomatic representation in the US
Chief of mission	Apostolic Nuncio Cardinal Christophe PIERRE (since 27 June 2016)
Chancery	3339 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Telephone	[1] (202) 333-7121
FAX	[1] (202) 337-4036
Email address and website	[email protected] http://www.nuntiususa.org/
Diplomatic representation from the US
Chief of mission	Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Laura HOCHLA (since 8 July 2024)
Embassy	Via Sallustiana, 49, 00187 Rome
Mailing address	5660 Holy See Place, Washington DC 20521-5660
Telephone	[39] (06) 4674-1
FAX	[39] (06) 4674-3411
Email address and website	https://va.usembassy.gov/
National heritage
Total World Heritage Sites	2 (both cultural)
Selected World Heritage Site locales	Historic Center of Rome, the Properties of the Holy See in that City Enjoying Extraterritorial Rights and San Paolo Fuori le Mura; Vatican City