About the Holy See

Vatican background information

Lateran Pacts regulating independence and sovereignty of the Holy See were signed with Italy on February 11, 1929. The whole ministry which rules the Catholic Church is called the Holy See. The Embassy works closely with the Roman Curia which is the central government of the Vatican City State. The official title of the mission is the Embassy of Canada to the Holy See.

Vatican City

St. Peter's Basilica, the Apostolic Palace and the Vatican Museum

Area

44 hectares

Boundaries

3 km

Holy See State

Vatican City in addition to other extra-territorial locations: 13 other buildings located in Rome but outside the walls of the Vatican; the summer Papal residence at Castel Gandolfo, near Rome; pontifical shrines in Pompei, Loreto and Bari.

Population

Around 300 clergy, essentially Curia members; approximately 3,000 lay workers residing outside the Vatican.

Languages

Latin (official); French (diplomatic); Italian is the main working language.

Government

Monarchy type; the Pope has full executive, legislative and judicial powers in both the pastoral government (Holy See) and civil government (Vatican City State).

Head of State

The Supreme Pontiff, His Holiness Pope Francis, born on December 17, 1936, in Buenos Aires, Argentina; elected on March 13, 2013; pontifical inauguration March 19, 2013.