Discover
The identity of the nation
Vatican City is the smallest country in the world, a small territory surrounded by walls within the city of Rome, in Italy. There sits the seat of government of the Catholic Church and the residence of the pope, the spiritual leader of more than a billion Catholics across five continents. Despite its tiny size, few places on the planet carry such historical and spiritual weight.
On paper, Vatican City is the only country in the world with 100% of its population declared Christian, since citizenship there is granted to those who serve the Holy See (the central government of the Catholic Church), such as cardinals, priests, nuns and the Swiss Guard. But living within religious walls does not, by itself, guarantee a living and personal faith. Vatican City’s greatest spiritual challenge is not a lack of religion, but the risk of a faith that becomes mere routine, office or inherited tradition, without a true and transforming encounter with Jesus.
Thousands of people pass through Vatican City every day without officially being part of it: lay employees who live in Rome and come to work as gardeners, security guards, art restorers or museum attendants, along with millions of tourists and pilgrims who visit St. Peter’s Basilica and the Sistine Chapel every year. For many of them, Vatican City is just a tourist destination or a workplace like any other, which opens space for genuine conversations about faith amid the routine and the charm of art and history.
Throughout its history, Vatican City has also been the stage for decisions that changed the course of much of world Christianity, such as the Second Vatican Council in the 1960s, which renewed longstanding practices of the Catholic Church. From there, for nearly a hundred years, Vatican Radio has also broadcast messages of the Christian faith in dozens of languages to every continent. This shows how that small territory continues to influence, for better or worse, how billions of people understand the Christian faith.
Today, Vatican City faces the challenge of dealing with its own past, including internal scandals, and of responding to growing secularism (the retreat of faith from public life) that surrounds even the walls of Rome. It is a place that needs prayer for genuine renewal: that the faith born there does not remain confined to rituals and grand buildings, but reaches hearts, inside and outside its walls, and continues to be a voice for persecuted Christians in other parts of the world.
- 1st century According to Christian tradition, the apostle Peter was martyred and buried on Vatican Hill, in Rome.
- 326 Emperor Constantine orders the construction of the first St. Peter's Basilica over the site of the tomb.
- 1506-1626 The current St. Peter's Basilica is built over more than a century, designed by several artists, including Michelangelo.
- 1870 The Kingdom of Italy annexes Rome, and the papacy loses control of the former Papal States, becoming isolated within the Vatican.
- 1929 The Lateran Treaty, signed between the Holy See and Italy, officially creates Vatican City State as a sovereign country.
- 1931 Vatican Radio begins broadcasting, today in dozens of languages to every continent.
- 1962-1965 The Second Vatican Council gathers bishops from around the world and renews practices of the Catholic Church, such as the use of the local language in celebrations.
- Today Vatican City remains the seat of government of the Catholic Church and the residence of the pope, receiving millions of pilgrims and tourists every year.
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ItalianLanguage used in daily life, in administration and by most residents.
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LatinOfficial language of the Holy See, used in formal documents and some ceremonies.
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Various languagesSince employees, guards and visitors come from dozens of countries, many languages are heard within the walls, from English to Swiss German.
Vatican City is a small walled territory within the city of Rome, in Italy. At less than half a square kilometer, it is the smallest country in the world, the size of a few city blocks. Within its boundaries lie St. Peter's Square, St. Peter's Basilica, the Vatican Museums and extensive gardens that cover more than half the territory. There are no neighborhoods, rural borders or other cities: everything that exists fits within a single wall.
Major cities
- Vatican CityThe country's only urban center, home to the government of the Holy See (the central administration of the Catholic Church), the pope's residence and the main monuments.
- St. Peter's SquareA large open area at the entrance to the Basilica, surrounded by a colonnade shaped like an embrace, the stage for the pope's celebrations and blessings.
- Vatican GardensA green area covering more than half the territory, with historic fountains, sculptures and spaces of silence and prayer.
Climate and temperature
Sopa de lentilhas
A dish tied to the Lenten fasting tradition (the period of preparation for Easter) and to the historic diet of the Swiss Guard, made with olive oil and Parmesan cheese.
Massas frescas
As in all Italian cuisine, fresh pasta with a variety of sauces is an everyday dish in Vatican City's cafeterias.
Cordeiro assado
Slow roasted and served with potatoes and vegetables, it is common at celebrations and special occasions, such as Easter.
Pasta do Conclave
Simple pasta with butter and Parmesan cheese, tied to an old tradition (part history, part legend) about the food served to cardinals during the election of the pope.
Gelato
Italy's most famous frozen dessert, also served within the walls of Vatican City.
Cannoli
A Sicilian pastry, fried and filled with ricotta cream, served on special occasions.
Understand
Culture and spirituality
2a · The culture
St. Peter's Basilica
One of the largest churches in the world, built over what Christian tradition holds to be the tomb of the apostle Peter.
Sistine Chapel
Chapel famous for its ceiling painted by Michelangelo, depicting scenes from the creation of the world; it is also where cardinals gather to elect the pope.
Vatican Museums
One of the largest collections of art and history in the world, with corridors that stretch for kilometers.
St. Peter's Square
An open space surrounded by a colonnade shaped like an embrace, designed by the artist Bernini, where the pope addresses the faithful.
Vatican Necropolis and Grottoes
An underground area beneath the Basilica where dozens of popes are buried, including, according to tradition, the apostle Peter himself.
Vatican Gardens
Covering more than half the territory, with historic fountains and areas of silence and prayer.
- Short clothing or bare shoulders Entry to St. Peter's Basilica and the Vatican Museums requires clothing that covers shoulders and knees, as a sign of respect for the sacred space.
- Speaking loudly or using flash inside the Sistine Chapel The space is treated as a place of silence and prayer, and flash photography can damage the ancient paintings.
- Treating religious visits as a simple sightseeing tour For residents and pilgrims, that space is one of living faith, not just a museum to be rushed through.
- Flippant comments about the pope's authority The pope is a figure of deep respect for Catholics, and jokes about the office can come across as offensive.
2b · The field
Areas of spiritual battle and cultural captivity to cover in prayer. Tap each point to understand:
The risk of living out faith only as rite and tradition, without a personal, living encounter with Jesus.
The tendency to concentrate power and prestige solely in the clergy, distancing lay people from the Church's decisions.
Cases of abuse committed by members of the clergy in the past, still being confronted and healed within the institution.
A history of lack of transparency in the finances of the Holy See, including the Vatican's own bank.
The temptation to protect the institution's reputation instead of acknowledging mistakes with humility.
The city of Rome, which surrounds Vatican City, is experiencing a growing retreat from faith and religious practice.
Many Catholics nearby were born into the faith but have never made it a personal, conscious decision.
Tensions between more traditional and more progressive groups within the Catholic Church itself.
The historical legacy of centuries in which the papacy also held political and territorial power.
The risk of treating the most sacred spaces merely as photo attractions, emptied of spiritual meaning.
Within its own walls, Vatican City faces no religious persecution: it is a sovereign state devoted entirely to the Catholic faith, with full freedom of worship.
The challenge there comes from another direction: from Rome and the surrounding Europe, a climate of indifference and even hostility toward the Christian faith is growing, fueled by secularism (the retreat of faith from public life) and by internal scandals within the Church itself, which have shaken the trust of many people.
As the seat of government of the Catholic Church, Vatican City closely follows the reality of millions of persecuted Christians in other countries, and uses its international voice to call for religious freedom and protection for those communities around the world.
The persecution score runs from 0 to 100: the higher it is, the greater the pressure on Christians.
According to the Joshua Project (a research organization on the peoples of the world), Vatican City has only one people group: "Italian, Other," linked to the local population that lives and works in service to the Holy See. Since practically all residents are in some way connected to the Catholic Church, this people group is considered 100% Christian, but only about 2.5% evangelical, which shows the distance that still exists, even there, between inherited religious tradition and a personal, lived faith.
- 0 Unreached 0%
- 0 Minimally reached 0%
- 0 Superficially reached 0%
- 1K Partially reached 100%
- 0 Significantly reached 0%
- 0 Unreached 0%
- 0 Minimally reached 0%
- 0 Superficially reached 0%
- 1 Partially reached 100%
- 0 Significantly reached 0%
Source of people group data: Joshua Project (joshuaproject.net). Estimates, may vary.
Pray
Intercede for this nation
Every nation carries a redemptive purpose. Marks that seem woven into the identity God desires to restore:
Go
Practical details for those who want to go
Local time
Cost of living
Vatican City has no consumer prices of its own (Numbeo does not record data for the territory); the closest reference is the surrounding city of Rome.
Cost by city
Reference values (source: Numbeo). Confirm before traveling.
Practical points for those who go
- Wear clothing that covers shoulders and knees to enter St. Peter's Basilica and the Vatican Museums.
- Arrive early in the morning to reduce wait times in the lines for the museums and the basilica.
- The most useful language for communication is Italian, although English is well understood at tourist sites.
- Bring water and sunscreen in summer, since much of the visit takes place outdoors under strong sun.
- Respect the silence inside the Sistine Chapel and the areas of prayer.
- Set aside extra time for the Vatican Necropolis, which requires advance booking and has limited spots.
Send and sustain
Not everyone goes, everyone takes part
Not everyone goes. Everyone takes part.
Behind every worker among these peoples stands a network of people who pray without ceasing, care for the family left behind, and faithfully sustain the work. Sending is mission too.
Start with your church: introduce this nation, adopt it in ongoing prayer, and walk alongside those God is raising up to go.