Vatican City, officially the Vatican City State, is a landlocked country, city-state, microstate, and enclave surrounded by, and historically a part of, Rome, Italy. It became independent from Italy in 1929 with the Lateran Treaty, and is a distinct territory under "full ownership, exclusive dominion, and sovereign authority and jurisdiction" of the Holy See, which is itself a sovereign entity under international law, maintaining the city-state's temporal power, governance, diplomatic, and spiritual independence. The Vatican is also a metonym for the pope, the Holy See, and the Roman Curia.
As the world mourns Pope Francis, attention now turns to Vatican City's ancient traditions. The black and white smoke signals from..
Pope Francis, who passed away at age 88, will be laid to rest this Saturday at St. Peter’s Square, Rome. Tens of thousands of..
The Second General Congregation of Cardinals convened at the Vatican as the Catholic Church enters the Novemdiales—the ancient..
Preparations begin for funeral of Pope Francis at St. Mary Major Basilica
In November 2024, Francis reformed the rites..
POPE's Last Rites: Pope Francis’ funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, April 26, in St. Peter’s Square. The Vatican expects..
