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

Government type ecclesiastical

Capital Vatican City

Administrative divisions none

Independence 11 February 1929 (from Italy)

National holiday Coronation Day of Pope JOHN PAUL II, 22 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 (since 16 October 1978)
head of government: Secretary of State Cardinal Angelo SODANO (since 2 December 1990)
cabinet: Pontifical Commission appointed by the 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 there are three tribunals responsible for civil and criminal matters within Vatican City; three other tribunals rule on issues pertaining to the Holy See
note: judicial duties were established by the Motu Proprio of Pius XII on 1 May 1946

Political parties and leaders none

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

International organization participation CE (observer), IAEA, ICFTU, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM (guest), OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, UN (observer), UNCTAD, UNHCR, UPU, WHO (observer), WIPO, WToO (observer), WTrO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Gabriel MONTALVO
telephone: [1] (202) 333-7121
FAX: [1] (202) 337-4036
chancery: 3339 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador R. James "Jim" NICHOLSON
embassy: Villa Domiziana, Via delle Terme Deciane 26, 00162 Rome
mailing address: PSC 59, Box F, APO AE 09624
telephone: [39] (06) 4674-3428
FAX: [39] (06) 5758346

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 2002 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Holy See (Vatican City) Government 2002 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Holy See (Vatican City) Government 2002 should be addressed to the CIA.