History and Origin

Catholics and other Christians believe that this place is the site of the tomb of Saint Peter, one of Jesus’s 12 original disciples

Vatican City grounds were considered sacred to many religions even before Christianity

In A.D. 326, the first church, what is now Saint Peter’s Basilica(cathedral), was built on the believed burial site

Eventually, Vatican City became the home and headquarters of the Catholic pope and it’s own country/city-state

Geography, Location, Size, and Climate

Vatican City is located on Vatican Hill, in the west-central part of Rome, Italy

It is 0.17 square miles, or 110 acres

The borders loosely follow a wall built around the country

Vatican City has a temperate Mediterranean climate

Winters are mild and rainy, usually ranging from September to mid-May

Hot, dry summers last from May to August

Population, Religion, and Language

The population of Vatican City, of people who actually live there, is a grand total of about 800 people. That’s not even twice the number of people in our school!

Everyone who lives here is involved with the church in some way

The people are 100% Catholic!Vatican City has no set language; most

people speak Italian, but some people speak French and German

Government and Monetary System

Vatican City has the last absolute monarchy in Europe

While many advisers can make decisions in the executive, judicial, and legislative branches, the pope has absolute power over all branches

Because leadership is passed from pope to pope, and not son to son, this country has a unique non-hereditary monarchy

The current pope and leader of Vatican City is Pope Benedict XVI

Vatican City’s currency is the Vatican Lira; however, Italian Lira is legal in Vatican City and Vatican Lira is legal in Italy

Important and Noteworthy People and Places

The pope, Benedict XVI, is the most important person in Vatican City and the most important religious figure in the world to Catholics

The pope visited the 9/11 Memorial in NY from the 15-20 of April, 2008

The current pope’s name at birth was Joseph Alois Ratzinger

The most famous cathedral in Vatican City is Saint Peter’s Basilica, built over what is believed to be Saint Peter’s tomb

The pope lives in the Papal Apartments of the Papal Palace

Attractions

Papal Palace, where the pope lives

Saint Peter’s Basilica, the cathedral

Saint Peter’s Square, near the Papal Palace and Saint Peter’s Basilica

Organized, researched, written, and just about everything else by

Bonnie Hester

Thanks to

Mrs. Carlton Guy HesterTim HesterDan Hester

For their constructive criticism

And thanks to

Wikipedia

For having a lot of valuable information