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• The Vatican is a sovereign city-state located within the city of Rome. It is the world's smaller country, the center of the Catholic faith and the residence of The Pope since the 14th Century.

• Fast Facts

  1. Independence from Italy: February 11, 1929
  2. Sovereign: Pope Benedict XVI
  3. Area: 0.17 sq mi; 110 acres (smallest in the world)
  4. Currency: Euro
  5. Population: roughly 800
  6. Military: The Swiss Guard (around 100 soldiers)
  7. Government: Theocratic Monarchy
  8. "Capital" of the Catholic Church
  9. In 2009 the Vatican announced the number of new priests was on the riseUSA Today: Vatican: After decline, number of priests rises slowly (February 28, 2009)

• Landmarks

  • Saint Peters Basilica—According to tradition, the burial site of Saint Peter; built over 100 years, between the 16th and 17th centuries; holds over 60,000 worshipers.
  • Sistine Chapel—Famous for Michelangelo fresco, God Creates Adam.
  • Saint Peters Square
  • Papal Palace
  • Vatican Pinacoteca (art gallery)
  • Vatican Library

• On YouTube

  The Vatican announced in January 2009 that they would be launching their own YouTube channel, a move many saw as a large step towards the modernization of the Catholic sovereign-city into new media resources. Details of The Vatican's involvement with YouTube were announced in a press conference on January 23, 2009. The Vatican will serve as a digital communication for the papacy and will use the YouTube username vaticanit. Pope Benedict XVI praised social media as a "gift to humanity" during the press conference.The Associated Press: Vatican launches Pope YouTube channel

• Related Mahalo Pages

  Roman Catholic Church | Pope Benedict XVI | Rome | Rome Vacation | Beatification | Europe | Holy Days Of Obligation | Timothy Dolan | Raymond Burke

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