Vatican City:
Geography

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Other pages in this profile of Vatican City:
People, Government, Economy, Communications & Transportation, Military & Transnational Issues.


Background	Definition 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.

Location	Definition Southern Europe, an enclave of Rome (Italy)
Geographic coordinates	Definition 41 54 N, 12 27 E
Map references	Definition Europe
Area	Definition - World rank and map total: 0.44 sq km land: 0.44 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative	Definition about 0.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries	Definition total: 3.2 km border countries: Italy 3.2 km
Coastline	Definition 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims	Definition none (landlocked)
Climate	Definition temperate; mild, rainy winters (September to May) with hot, dry summers (May to September)
Terrain	Definition urban; low hill
Elevation extremes	Definition lowest point: unnamed location 19 m highest point: unnamed location 75 m
Natural resources	Definition none
Land use	Definition - World rank and map arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (urban area) (2005)
Irrigated land	Definition 0 sq km
Natural hazards	Definition NA
Environment - current issues	Definition NA
Environment - international agreements	Definition party to: Climate Change signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution, Environmental Modification
Geography - note	Definition landlocked; enclave in Rome, Italy; world's smallest state; beyond the territorial boundary of Vatican City, the Lateran Treaty of 1929 grants the Holy See extraterritorial authority over 23 sites in Rome and five outside of Rome, including the Pontifical Palace at Castel Gandolfo (the Pope's summer residence)

Vatican City: Geography

Vatican City:
Geography