| Page Views: 3,658 Last Visit to Vatican City: January, 2007 I Visit Here Frequently | The Holy See: A Pilgrim's Report by Diana75 - last update: Feb 12, 2007 |
A place like all the others and still unique in its mission, a place marked by the history and men and still above the time and mankind, a place where we all can touch the miracle of our creation, our existance as Christians.
A visit to The Holy See is a pilgrimage to our origins, a meeting with our Christian faith and the memory of the Apostles and martyres.
"The Church can regard no one as excluded from its motherly embrace, no one as outside the scope of its motherly care. It has no enemies except those who wish to make themselves such. Its catholicity is no idle boast. It was not for nothing that it received its mission to foster love, unity and peace among men." (Paul VI, Ecclesiam suam, 94) |
| Domenica delle Palmi, April 2000 |
|  | State of the Vatican City As Christian and Catholic, I will never conceive a visit to Rome without visiting the Vatican City, the spiritual centre of the Christendom, with the famous Saint Peter's Basilica and the other three Basilicas located outside the Holy See walls: Saint John in Lateran, Saint Mary Major and Saint Paul outside the Walls, the impressive Vatican Museums, the beautiful Gardens and the fantastic St. Peter's Square.
Vatican City, officially State of the Vatican City is, since the Lateran Agreement (1929), an independent state and actually the world's smallest state, actually a microstate, spreading on approximately 44 ha, having only one thousand citizens.
Other properties of the Holy See located outside the Vatican, in the Italian territory, such as Castel Gandolfo and the Patriarchal Basilicas, have a special status similar to the one of the foreign embassies.
A city within the city and a State within a State, but the whole world in it. |
The Supreme Pontiff of the Catholic Church
The state is governed by the Bishop of Rome (the Pope) and the highest state functionaries are all clergymen of the Catholic Church.
The Holy Father is ex officio head of state and head of government of Vatican City. He is the only absolute monarch in Europe.
The Pope is elected for a life term in conclave by cardinals under the age of 80.
The current Pope is Benedict XVI, born Joseph Ratzinger in Germany. | | | The Holy Father Benedict XVI |
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 Comments for Diana75 about Vatican City | | | | |
Fam.Rauca Sun Jan 20, 2008 19:16 UTC
This is a wonderful page with splendid images and very interesting tips. Best regards from Vienna and “HAPPY BIRTHDAY”! Gabriela | hunterV Sat Jan 19, 2008 14:22 UTC
Splendid photos and stories, thanx! | Toshioohsako Sun Nov 11, 2007 19:42 UTC
I am not a chistian but i was in Varican. I like the city and the Vatican museum. Greetings | betako3 Sun Oct 21, 2007 18:42 UTC
This page is simply amazing! A real well of info and your pictures are great too. I wonder how long it took you to put it all together. |
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