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.
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
References
Fast Facts
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Independence from Italy
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Sovereign
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Area
0.17 sq mi; 110 acres (smallest in the world)
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Currency
Euro
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Population
roughly 800
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Military
The Swiss Guard (around 100 soldiers)
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Government
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Fact:
"Capital" of the Catholic Church
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Fact:
