VATICAN CITY GEOGRAPHY Total area: 0.438 km2; land area: 0.438 km2 Comparative area: about 0.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC Land boundary: 3.2 km with Italy Coastline: none--landlocked Maritime claims: none--landlocked Climate: temperate; mild, rainy winters (September to mid-May) with hot, dry summers (May to September) Terrain: low hill Natural resources: none Land use: arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures 0%; forest and woodland 0%; other 100% Environment: urban Note: landlocked; enclave of Rome, Italy; world's smallest state; outside the Vatican City, 13 buildings in Rome and Castel Gandolfo (the pope's summer residence) enjoy extraterritorial rights PEOPLE Population: 778 (July 1991), growth rate NEGL% (1991) Nationality: no noun or adjectival forms Ethnic divisions: primarily Italians but also Swiss and other nationalities Religion: Roman Catholic Language: Italian, Latin, and various other languages Literacy: 100% (male NA%, female NA%) Labor force: high dignitaries, priests, nuns, guards, and 3,000 lay workers who live outside the Vatican Organized labor: Association of Vatican Lay Workers, 1,800 members (1987) GOVERNMENT 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 ECONOMY Overview: This unique, noncommercial economy is supported financially by contributions (known as Peter's Pence) from Roman Catholics throughout the world, the sale of postage stamps, tourist mementos, fees for admission to museums, and the sale of publications. The incomes and living standards of lay workers are comparable to, or somewhat better than, those of counterparts who work in the city of Rome. Budget: revenues $76.6 million; expenditures $168 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1991) Electricity: 5,000 kW standby capacity (1990); power supplied by Italy Industries: printing and production of a small amount of mosaics and staff uniforms; worldwide banking and financial activities Currency: Vatican lira (plural--lire); 1 Vatican lira (VLit) = 100 centesimi Exchange rates: Vatican lire (VLit) per US$1--1,134.4 (January 1991), 1,198.1 (1990), 1,372.1 (1989), 1,301.6 (1988), 1,296.1 (1987), 1,490.8 (1986), 1,909.4 (1985); note--the Vatican lira is at par with the Italian lira which circulates freely Fiscal year: calendar year COMMUNICATIONS Railroads: 850 m, 750 mm gauge (links with Italian network near the Rome station of Saint Peter's) Highways: none; all city streets Telecommunications: stations--3 AM, 4 FM, no TV; 2,000-line automatic telephone exchange; no communications satellite systems DEFENSE FORCES Note: defense is the responsibility of Italy; Swiss Papal Guards are posted at entrances to the Vatican City