Vatican Rome

The Vatican Rome is the official residence of the Pope, the head of the Roman Catholic Church. Vatican City is a sovereign dependent state that is surrounded by the city of Rome. It is the smallest independent state in the world, both in terms of physical size and of population. Vatican City is the home of St. Peter’s Square, St. Peter’s Basilica, the Sistine Chapel and the Apostolic Palace. The Vatican in Rome is said to have been built on the site of St. Peter’s tomb. Its first church was called Constantine’s basilica, and it was erected in 326 AD. After the fall of the Roman Empire, papal control began to extend well beyond the city limits of the Vatican. Many surrounding regions of Italy were considered Papal States that were ruled by the Pope. However, these regions were taken by the secular Italian kingdom in the nineteenth century. After many years of controversy regarding the nature of Vatican City, it was given its independence in 1929 by Mussolini. The politics of the Vatican in Rome is completely controlled by the Pope and his cardinals. The Pope is given absolute power over the city, and he appoints cardinals to

handle the administrative aspects of the political process. The city is protected by a voluntary military called the Swiss Guards. They are responsible for protecting the Pope and maintaining order within the city limits. Many Catholics view Vatican City in Rome as a holy place. There are historical documents that suggest that the area was seen as holy even prior to the erection of Constantinople’s basilica. Because of this, the Vatican is one of the most popular tourist destinations for religious travelers from all over the world. Pilgrims visit the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s basilica, and they can experience the Pope’s weekly public address every Sunday in St. Peter’s square.