International Relations of Holy See

Country profile & diplomacy overview · 62 relations tracked

The Holy See is the jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, and it is a sovereign entity recognized by international law. The Holy See is not a state, but it has diplomatic relations with many countries and is a permanent observer to various international organizations, including the United Nations. The Holy See is headed by the Pope, who is the Bishop of Rome and the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church. The Pope is assisted in the governance of the Church by the Roman Curia, which is a complex bureaucracy that includes various departments and offices responsible for different aspects of the Church's administration. The Holy See also has a number of embassies and other diplomatic missions around the world, and it is involved in various charitable and humanitarian initiatives.

Population

801#205 of 205

Land area

1 km²#205 of 205

Global influence

#48Medium

Map legend

Closest relations Strained relations Holy See No data

Geography & terrain

An urban micro-enclave entirely within the city of Rome, with essentially no natural terrain of its own — no hills, rivers, or open land beyond a few city blocks. Mediterranean climate by virtue of its setting. Landlocked, no coastline, and wholly surrounded by Italy; it has no meaningful defensive terrain and relies entirely on diplomatic status rather than geography for its security.

Key facts

Diverse sources: UN, World Bank, Holy See Statistics Office/Department. Most recent available data
Capital	Vatican City (764 people, 95.4% of total population)
Population	801 (#205 of 205 countries)
Land area	1 km² (#205 of 205 countries)
Main religion	Christianity
Life expectancy	79 years

Source: World Bank Open Data. Most recent available data
Currency	Euro
Main language(s)	Italian, Latin
Government type	Absolute elective monarchy
Time zone	UTC+1.0
International calling code	+379
Driving side	Right
UNESCO World Heritage Sites	1
Nuclear power	No
European Union	Not a member
NATO	Not a member

Shares a land border with 1 country — here is how those relations stand

Holy See's relations with its neighbors

1 Italy 5.9/10 See relation →

Most similar countries, by language, currency, GDP per capita, borders & international groups

Rank #48 Medium International Influence

Holy See's actions have a limited effect on the world or on other countries.

See the full world influence ranking →

Most intense relations

Top 5 relations of Holy See by overall intensity. Intensity reflects the level and significance of interaction—not whether the relationship is positive or negative.