Definition

Proper noun 1. A sovereign city-state: The State of the Vatican City is an independent city-state and the smallest sovereign state in the world by both area and population. It is the territorial seat of the Holy See, the governing body of the Roman Catholic Church. 2. The papal see: It serves as the episcopal see of the Pope as the Bishop of Rome, making it the central headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church. 3. A historical entity: It achieved its independence from the Kingdom of Italy with the Lateran Treaty in 1929.

Usage Examples

• As a proper noun (subject/object):
  • The State of the Vatican City is located entirely within the city of Rome.
  • Many tourists visit the State of the Vatican City to see St. Peter's Basilica.
  • The governance of the State of the Vatican City is distinct from the spiritual ministry of the Holy See.

Advanced Usage

• Diplomatic context: In formal diplomatic and legal contexts, "the State of the Vatican City" refers specifically to the sovereign territory, while "the Holy See" refers to the central governing institution of the Church, which is the entity that engages in international relations and is a permanent observer at the United Nations.
  • The State of the Vatican City mints its own euro coins, which are highly collectible.

Variants and Related Words

• The Vatican: A common shorthand term that can refer ambiguously to the State of the Vatican City, the Holy See, or the physical complex of buildings. In precise usage, it is not synonymous with the full official name.
• Holy See (): The jurisdiction of the Bishop of Rome (the Pope), encompassing the spiritual and governing leadership of the Catholic Church, which is sovereign over the State of the Vatican City.
• Papal States (): The territories in the Italian Peninsula under the direct sovereign rule of the Pope from the 8th century until 1870, preceding the establishment of the modern State of the Vatican City.

Synonyms

• Vatican City State: An alternative phrasing of the full official name.
• The Vatican: (In common, though imprecise, usage).

Related Phrases

• Lateran Treaty: The 1929 agreement between the Holy See and Italy that established the independent State of the Vatican City, ending the "Roman Question."
• City-state: A sovereign state that consists of a single city and its dependent territories, a category to which the State of the Vatican City belongs.

Noun

1. the smallest sovereign state in the world; the see of the Pope (as the Bishop of Rome); home of the Pope and the central administration of the Roman Catholic Church; achieved independence from Italy in 1929