0507, 2830 VATICAN CITY (UNESCO WHS)

0507 Saint Peter's Square in Vatican City (1)

Posted on 11.02.2013, 16.10.2016
Everybody knows that Vatican City is the smallest independent state in the world by both area and population (0.44 km2, and 836 inhabitants). But few know that this walled enclave within the city of Rome was established as an independent state only in 1929 by the Lateran Treaty (signed on behalf of King Victor Emmanuel III of Italy by... Prime Minister Benito Mussolini), which spoke of it as a new creation, not as a vestige of the Papal States (756-1870). Even fewer know that Vatican City is distinct from the Holy See, the two entities having distinct passports.

2830 Saint Peter's Square in Vatican City (2)

 

I think that one of the reasons for the existence of these two entities is diplomatic, because in this way the Pope can address to the Catholic prelates as the leader of the Catholic Church, and to the heads of state (regardless of faith) as a head of a state. The name "Vatican" predates Christianity and comes from the Latin Mons Vaticanus (Vatican Mount). Separated from the city, on the west bank of the Tiber river, Vatican comprise St. Peter's Basilica (in the foreground of the postcard), the Apostolic Palace, the Sistine Chapel, museums, and various other buildings.

1706 VATICAN CITY - A halbardier of the Pontifical Swiss Guard guarding the statue of Saint Peter Enthroned

As the Vatican City is an enclave within Italy, its military defence is provided by the Italian armed forces, so it has no armed forces of its own. The Palatine Guard and the Noble Guard, the last armed forces of the Vatican City, were disbanded by Pope Paul VI in 1970. The Swiss Guard is a military corps of the Holy See responsible for the personal security of the Pope. At the end of 2005, the Guard had 134 members. Swiss mercenaries were historically recruited by Popes as part of an army for the Papal States, and the Pontifical Swiss Guard was founded by Pope Julius II on 22 January 1506 as the pope's personal bodyguard. Recruitment is arranged by a special agreement between the Holy See and Switzerland.