Long-form name: State of the Vatican City; note--the Vatican City is the physical seat of the Holy See, which is the central government of the Roman Catholic Church

Type: monarchical-sacerdotal state

Capital: Vatican City

Independence: 11 February 1929 (from Italy)

Constitution: Apostolic Constitution of 1967 (effective 1 March 1968)

National holiday: Installation Day of the Pope (John Paul II), 22 October (1978); note--Pope John Paul II was elected on 16 October 1978

Executive branch: pope

Legislative branch: unicameral Pontifical Commission

Judicial branch: none; normally handled by Italy

Leaders: Chief of State--Pope JOHN PAUL II (Karol WOJTYLA; since 16 October 1978); Head of Government--Secretary of State Archbishop Angelo SODANO

Political parties and leaders: none

Suffrage: limited to cardinals less than 80 years old

Elections: Pope--last held 16 October 1978 (next to be held after the death of the current pope); results--Karol WOJTYlA was elected for life by the College of Cardinals

Communists: NA

Other political or pressure groups: none (exclusive of influence exercised by church officers)

Member of: CSCE, IAEA, ICFTU, IMF (observer), INTELSAT, IOM (observer), ITU, OAS (observer), UN (observer), UNCTAD, UNHCR, UPU, WIPO, WTO (observer)

Diplomatic representation: Apostolic Pro-Nuncio Archbishop Agostino CACCIAVILLAN; 3339 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone (202) 333-7121; US--Ambassador Thomas P. MELADY; Embassy at Villino Pacelli, Via Aurelia 294, 00165 Rome (mailing address is APO New York 09794); telephone [396] 639-0558

Flag: two vertical bands of yellow (hoist side) and white with the crossed keys of Saint Peter and the papal tiara centered in the white band

NOTE: The information regarding Vatican City on this page is re-published from the 1991 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Vatican City Government 1991 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Vatican City Government 1991 should be addressed to the CIA.