|
|
|
Structure
Interesting Questions, Facts and Information
- There are a total of 30 general entries.
Special Topics
|
 Interesting Questions, Facts, and Information
 Vatican City
| Who provides internal security for the Vatican City State and for the Pope? | Vatican City State
|
The Swiss Guard . The Swiss Guard is the official guard of the Vatican and the Pope. This unit was originally established in about 1505 by Pope Julius II. There are 110 soldiers and 6 officers in the unit. They all wear very colorful and unique uniforms that some say were designed by Michelangelo.
| How many years did it take Michelangelo to complete painting the frescos on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel? | Vatican City State
|
4. He worked on painting the frescos on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel during the years from 1508 to 1512.
Castel Gandolfo. Castel Gandolfo is a small town located on Lake Alano in central Ital. The papal summer palace, also referred to as Castel Gandolfo, was built in the 17th century.
| Which country has not yet established diplomatic and ambassadorial ties with the Vatican City State? | Vatican City State
|
Russia. In December 1999 the diplomatic credentials of ambassadors from Eritea, Norway, Sri Lanka and Togo were accepted by the Pope. Full diplomatic relations between Russia and the Vatican have not yet been established.
Bold Yellow and White. It is a rather bold yellow-white flag.
| What best describes the form of government used by the Vatican City State? | Vatican City State
|
Autocracy. The Pope has complete governmental {power;} however, he is assisted by a body of agencies known as the 'Curia'.
| Approximately, how many acres of land, previously within the city limits of Rome, did the Lateran Treaty allocate to the Vatican City State? | Vatican City State
|
109. The Vatican City State includes a relative small total area. St. Peter's Square, St. Peter's Basillica and portions of the Papal Palace (including the Sistine Chapel are in a relatively open public area. The remainder of the Vatican City State is behind high walls.
| When was Vatican City officially established as a sovereign State with the Pope having complete executive, legislative and judicial powers? | Vatican City State
|
1929. In 1929 Pope Pius XI. and the Italian government established an independent Vatican City State under the terms of the Lateran Treaty.
| Who changed the country of Italy from multiple independent States to a single unified government? | Vatican City State
|
Victor Emanuel II.. Until about the 1860's Italy consisted of multiple independent States. At that time the Pope had complete civil powers for a large area, including Rome. When Victor Emanuel II. became King of Italy in 1861 he united the country into a single government. All independent States, including the Papal State were dissolved.For nearly 60 years the Pope and his staff remained entirely within the Papal Palace and gardens.They never travelled outside thatlimited area and considered themselves to be 'Prisoners' of the Kingdom.
11 February 1929. Under the terms of the Lateran Treaty, Vatican City was established as a sovereign state on 11 February 1929. Arguably, this treaty, which brought about much improved relations between the Papacy and Italy, was Mussolini's only lasting achievement.
0.17. The Vatican City is just about 0.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC.
| The economy of the Vatican City is supported by the financial contributions of Roman Catholics throughout the world. What is the technical term for this? | Vatican City: A State with a Soul
|
Peter's Pence. Other than the sale of postage stamps, mementos, and museum tickets, contributions from the worldwide community of the Roman Catholic Church, known as Peter's Pence, is the main financial contributor to the Vatican City.
College of Cardinals. In 2005 the College of Cardinals named Pope Benedict to the successor to Pope John Paul II.
Apostolic Constitution of 1967. The Apostolic Constitution of 1967 came into effect on 1 March 1968.
80. Suffrage is limited to cardinals who are below 80 years. The Pope appoints the cardinals, who are usually bishops or archbishops.
Monarchical-sacerdotal state. The government type of the Vatican City is monarchical-sacerdotal. It is headed by the Pope of the Roman Catholic Church, who is elected for life by the cardinals. Some factbooks describe the system of government not as monarchical-sacerdotal but as ecclesiastical. 'Sacerdotal' means 'priestly'. This means that a priest (in this case the Holy Father) is the monarch of the country.
Stato della Citta del Vaticano. The Holy See is the conventional short form, State of the Vatican City the conventional long form and Santa Sede the local short form.
Egyptian obelisk. At the center of St. Peters Square is a beautiful Egyptian obelisk. Built in the ancient Egyptian city of Heliopolis during the 5th dynasty, this impressive work of art took over a year to re-erect after it brought to Vatican City in the mid-16th century. It was originally topped with a gilt ball that was believed to contain the ashes of Julius Caesar. The manner in which the obelisk was set up in the elaborate stonework floor of the square enabled it to be used as a sundial.
| According to legend, Vatican City is built on or around the grave of which Catholic Saint who was said to have been crucified upside down? | Fascinating Vatican City
|
St. Peter. Constantine, who was the first Christian emperor of Rome, ordered the building of a basilica. For the location he chose the location where Saint Peter was said to have buried after his crucifixion in 64 AD. This church was not completed until about 349 AD. By the mid 15th century the basilica had fallen into ruin. In 1450 a new foundation was laid, but this new basilica was not finished until 1626. The two main architects involved were Bramante and Michelangelo. St. Peter's Basilica is considered by many to be one of the most beautiful buildings in the world.
| In 1889, Pope Leo XIII restored and reopened an elaborately painted apartment that contained several rooms that had been named after which despised family? | Fascinating Vatican City
|
Borgia. This apartment had been home to Pope Alexander VI whose birth name had been Rodrigo de Borgia. Under his papacy, his family became notorious for criminal activity that included many murders, rapes, bribery and theft among others. His apartments contained many frescoes painted by the 15th century master Pinturicchio. Upon the death of the pope in 1503, the apartment and its many rooms of artwork were locked up and abandoned until 1889 when after heavy and careful restoration the apartment was opened to the public.
Palace of Sixtus V. The Apostolic Palace is also called the Palace of Sixtus the V (1520-1590). This building houses both residential apartments as well as administrative offices. Construction of the palace was begun in 1589 under the Papacy of Pope Sixtus V, hence the name.
The Swiss Guard. The Papal Swiss Guard was founded in 1506. Their colorful silk uniforms can be seen in travel brochures of Vatican City. To be a member of this small but elite army, you must be male, Catholic, and have Swiss citizenship. All applicants must have at least a high school diploma or college degree, be at least 5'09" tall and between 19-30 years of age. The uniform of the Swiss Guard weighs over eight lbs. and may be the heaviest used by any army today. They are also some of the most complex and hardest to make. These men add much of the color that is seen when visiting Vatican City.
|
Play Now! 