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The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome. It is recognized by other subjects of international law as a sovereign entity, headed by the Pope, with which diplomatic relations can be maintained. Popes in their secular role ruled portions of the Italian peninsula for more than a thousand years until the mid 19th century, when many of the Papal States were seized by the newly united Kingdom of Italy. In 1870, the pope's holdings were further circumscribed when Rome itself was annexed. Disputes between a series of "prisoner" popes and Italy were resolved in 1929 by three Lateran Treaties, which established the independent state of Vatican City and granted Roman Catholicism special status in Italy. In 1984, a concordat between the Holy See and Italy modified certain of the earlier treaty provisions, including the primacy of Roman Catholicism as the Italian state religion. Present concerns of the Holy See include religious freedom, international development, the environment, the Middle East, China, the decline of religion in Europe, terrorism, interreligious dialogue and reconciliation, and the application of church doctrine in an era of rapid change and globalization. About one billion people worldwide profess the Catholic faith.[1]
Vatican Polities
Holy See: State of the Vatican City (From 1929)
States of the Church (1814-1870)
States of the Church (1800-1809)- States of the Church (0754-1798)
Neighbouring Nations
References[]
- ↑ The CIA World Factbook
- Holy See: Guide to Law Online (Library of Congress)
- The World Factbook (CIA)
- Chiefs of State and Cabinet Members of Foreign Governments (CIA)
- World Statesmen.org
- EuroDocs: Online Sources for European History