State in Vatican City

The State of Vatican City and the Holy See are separate subjects under international law. The State provides territory, security, infrastructure and public services, while the Holy See represents the Catholic Church's central authority in diplomacy and international relations. The Supreme Pontiff represents the State through the Secretariat of State in relations with other states, international legal persons and diplomatic matters; the President of the Governorate represents it in other contexts. The Governorate manages the enclave's daily administration and remains directly responsible to the Successor of Peter. The current Legge Fondamentale dello Stato della Città del Vaticano took effect on 31 July 2026 and replaced the 13 May 2023 version. The Supreme Pontiff is the sovereign. The Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State performs legislative functions, with members appointed by the Supreme Pontiff for five-year terms. Laws are submitted directly to the Supreme Pontiff before promulgation, and the Commission gives authentic interpretations of State laws. In an urgent situation, the President may issue a law decree, but it remains effective for no more than 90 days unless it becomes a law. The President of the Pontifical Commission also serves as President of the Governorate. A General Secretary and, where appointed, a Vice General Secretary support the executive administration. Directorates cover infrastructure and services, telecommunications and information systems, the economy, security and civil protection, health and hygiene, museums and cultural heritage, and the Pontifical Villas. Central offices handle legal matters and personnel. The Legal Office maintains civil-status and registry functions, registers legal and canonical persons, vehicles, public and private instruments, suppliers and intellectual property, and provides notarial services. The Personnel Office manages recruitment, personnel records, pay, welfare, pensions and employment relations. The territory is an enclave within Rome and Italy. Its boundaries are marked by walls, while St Peter's Square extends to the white marble line of the colonnade. Five access points serve the territory. St Peter's Square is normally open to the public under Italian police supervision up to the steps of the Basilica; the Holy See can temporarily restrict access. Holy See buildings and areas in Rome may have extraterritorial immunity, and State organs can exercise functions in places where State or Holy See institutions operate under international guarantees and immunities. No internal regional or municipal division has been identified. The State community includes citizens, residents and people who work permanently for the State or the Holy See. Special provisions connected with the Lateran Treaty govern citizenship, residence permits and access. The available evidence does not show a general immigration or naturalisation system. Official figures at 31 December 2024 recorded 673 citizens and 882 residents. General access fees are not identified, although individual services may carry charges; copies of judicial records can be subject to a rights fee. The judicial system includes the Tribunal, the Court of Appeal and the Court of Cassation. The Office of the Promoter of Justice carries out investigative and prosecutorial functions. Courts act in the name of the Supreme Pontiff. The Supreme Pontiff appoints judges, who are subject to the law in their judicial work. Judicial guarantees include impartiality, defence rights and a hearing between the parties. The system recognises equity, conciliation and rehabilitation. Amnesty, pardon, remission, clemency and commutation remain reserved to the Supreme Pontiff. The Gendarmerie performs police, judicial and penitentiary functions under judicial authority. The Pontifical Commission approves the annual preventive and final budgets and a three-year financial plan, which are submitted directly to the Supreme Pontiff. An Audit College provides internal budget control. The Council for the Economy, the Secretariat for the Economy, the Office of the Auditor General and the Authority for Supervision and Financial Information, known as ASIF, provide wider oversight. ASIF supervises financial activity, regulates relevant institutions, performs financial intelligence work and supports anti-money-laundering, counter-terrorist-financing and proliferation-financing prevention. Vatican procurement rules provide for transparency, control and competition. The Directorate of Security and Civil Protection Services coordinates public safety. The Corps of Gendarmerie handles policing, border and access control, traffic, public order, crime prevention and criminal investigation. The Fire Brigade provides first response, fire protection and civil protection. The Pontifical Swiss Guard supports protection of the Pope and designated sites when requested. Italian authorities, including the Inspectorate for Public Security at the Vatican, cooperate with Vatican services. St Peter's Square has a special arrangement under the Lateran Treaty in which Italian police authority applies. The institutional website vaticanstate.va publishes State norms, notices and official administrative information. A State app introduced in 2026 provides news, notices and push notifications. Vatican News, Vatican Radio and L'Osservatore Romano primarily serve Holy See or Roman Curia media functions and should not be confused with independent State media. Cultural heritage and public access are administered through arrangements involving the Holy See and the State's museum and heritage institutions.