History and Origin
Catholics and other Christians believe that this place is the site of the tomb of Saint Peter, one of Jesus’s 12 original disciples
Vatican City grounds were considered sacred to many religions even before Christianity
In A.D. 326, the first church, what is now Saint Peter’s Basilica(cathedral), was built on the believed burial site
Eventually, Vatican City became the home and headquarters of the Catholic pope and it’s own country/city-state
Geography, Location, Size, and Climate
Vatican City is located on Vatican Hill, in the west-central part of Rome, Italy
It is 0.17 square miles, or 110 acres
The borders loosely follow a wall built around the country
Vatican City has a temperate Mediterranean climate
Winters are mild and rainy, usually ranging from September to mid-May
Hot, dry summers last from May to August
Population, Religion, and Language
The population of Vatican City, of people who actually live there, is a grand total of about 800 people. That’s not even twice the number of people in our school!
Everyone who lives here is involved with the church in some way
The people are 100% Catholic!Vatican City has no set language; most
people speak Italian, but some people speak French and German
Government and Monetary System
Vatican City has the last absolute monarchy in Europe
While many advisers can make decisions in the executive, judicial, and legislative branches, the pope has absolute power over all branches
Because leadership is passed from pope to pope, and not son to son, this country has a unique non-hereditary monarchy
The current pope and leader of Vatican City is Pope Benedict XVI
Vatican City’s currency is the Vatican Lira; however, Italian Lira is legal in Vatican City and Vatican Lira is legal in Italy
Important and Noteworthy People and Places
The pope, Benedict XVI, is the most important person in Vatican City and the most important religious figure in the world to Catholics
The pope visited the 9/11 Memorial in NY from the 15-20 of April, 2008
The current pope’s name at birth was Joseph Alois Ratzinger
The most famous cathedral in Vatican City is Saint Peter’s Basilica, built over what is believed to be Saint Peter’s tomb
The pope lives in the Papal Apartments of the Papal Palace
Attractions
Papal Palace, where the pope lives
Saint Peter’s Basilica, the cathedral
Saint Peter’s Square, near the Papal Palace and Saint Peter’s Basilica
Organized, researched, written, and just about everything else by
Bonnie Hester
Thanks to
Mrs. Carlton Guy HesterTim HesterDan Hester
For their constructive criticism
And thanks to
Wikipedia
For having a lot of valuable information
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