Country name
conventional long form: The Holy See (State of the Vatican City)
conventional short form: Holy See (Vatican City)
local long form: Santa Sede (Stato della Citta del Vaticano)
local short form: Santa Sede (Citta del Vaticano)

Data code VT

Government type monarchical-sacerdotal state

National capital Vatican City

Independence 11 February 1929 (from Italy)

National holiday Installation Day of the Pope, 22 October (1978) (John Paul II)
note: Pope John Paul II was elected on 16 October 1978

Constitution Apostolic Constitution of 1967 (effective 1 March 1968)

Legal system NA

Suffrage limited to cardinals less than 80 years old

Executive branch
chief of state: Pope JOHN PAUL II (Karol WOJTYLA; since 16 October 1978)
head of government: Secretary of State Archbishop Angelo Cardinal SODANO (since 2 December 1990)
cabinet: Pontifical Commission appointed by Pope
elections: pope elected for life by the College of Cardinals; election last held 16 October 1978 (next to be held after the death of the current pope); secretary of state appointed by the pope
election results: Karol WOJTYLA elected pope

Legislative branch unicameral Pontifical Commission

Judicial branch none; normally handled by Italy

Political parties and leaders none

Political pressure groups and leaders none (exclusive of influence exercised by church officers)

International organization participation IAEA, ICFTU, Intelsat, IOM (observer), ITU, OAS (observer), OSCE, UN (observer), UNCTAD, UNHCR, UPU, WIPO, WToO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Apostolic Pro-Nuncio Archbishop Agostino CACCIAVILLAN
chancery: 3339 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 333-7121

Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Corrine BOGGS
embassy: Villa Domiziana, Via Delle Terme Deciane 26, Rome 00153
mailing address: PSC 59, APO AE 09624
telephone: [39] (6) 46741
FAX: [39] (6) 5758346, 57300682

Flag description two vertical bands of yellow (hoist side) and white with the crossed keys of Saint Peter and the papal miter centered in the white band

NOTE: The information regarding Holy See (Vatican City) on this page is re-published from the 1998 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Holy See (Vatican City) Government 1998 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Holy See (Vatican City) Government 1998 should be addressed to the CIA.