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GOVERNMENT
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The Pope is absolute sovereign of this small State but he exercises his legislative and executive power through a special Commission formed by seven cardinals with a lay delegate who is responsible for governing and is appointed directly by the Pope. As in other States, the Vatican has its own passports, a papal flag, its own railway to transport goods and mints, its own money as well as prints its own stamps. There is a Post Office in the colonnade where it is possible to buy coins, commemorative medals and stamps, mail correspondence with the postal cancellation of the Vatican City
The Vatican legal system is entrusted to a judge who acts on behalf of the Pope. There are three levels of judgement: first judgement, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court. Work mainly concerns civil issues such as violating the road code.
Instead protection is entrusted to the Swiss Guards Corps who directly depend on the Pope, and whose only duty is to safeguard the Apostolic See. The Corps is formed by young Swiss men who have been purposely trained and come from a Catholic background.
Their oath of allegiance takes place every year and each recruit recites the formulae in his own language holding in one hand the flag and in the other he lifts up three fingers symbolising the Trinity.
The Vatican State has a publisher, a daily newspaper for information called the Osservatore Romano and a radio broadcasting station (Vatican Radio).
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VATICAN MUSEUMS
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The Vatican Museums can be reached by going along a slope outside the Vatican Walls along via del Vaticano.
Museums and Galleries Pontificie: viale Vaticano
The Vatican Historical Museum: is in Palazzo del Laterano at San Giovanni
Museum Historical Artistic - Tesoro di S. Pietro
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SEEING THE POPE
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The Pope's speeches can be heard every Sunday at 12,00 during the "Angelus" in St. Peter's when the Pope is not travelling or resting in his summer residence at Castel Gandolfo (which happens from mid-July until the end of September). The Pope appears at the external windows of the Basilica and give his weekly blessings. The special "Urbi et Orbi" blessing is delivered on Easter and Christmas. Every Wednesday, from October until March at Sala Nervi and from April until September at St. Peter's Square, the Pope receives the faithful for a General Audition (Udienza Generale). To participate to the hearing you have to make a reservation.
Usually two events are held during the Holy Week: the washing of the Pope's feet on Holy Thursday in the Basilica of St. John and the Via Crucis at the Colosseum. On Corpus Christi, the Pope celebrates the Mass at St. John in Lateran's and afterwards, he heads the procession walking along via Merulana to the Basilica of S. Maria Maggiore. On December 8th, in occasion of the Immacolata celebration, the Pope is in Piazza di Spagna, where the statue of the Virgin Mary is located, and at the Basilica of S. Maria Maggiore for the Holy Mass.
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VATICAN CITY |
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There are three entrances to the heart of the city. It is possible to enter through Arco delle Campane, on the left of the Basilica, Porta Sant'Anna on the right, or through the Basilica itself. It is also possible to enter through the museums up the slope of via del Vaticano. The Vatican pharmacy is in via di Porta Angelica and is open to anybody requiring medicine who has a medical prescription and identify document.
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THE BASILICA |
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| The largest church in the world, 140 m. wide and 200 m. long, is surmounted by a dome 132 m. high, divided into 16 sections in which "eyes" open up to let in light. The lower part of the basilica, consisting of a large portico, houses the equestrian statue of Constantine and of Charlemagne, defenders of the faith. It is from the central Balcony of Blessing over the portico that the election of the new pope is announced. On the top of the portico there are 13 gigantic statues representing Christ and the Apostles. There are five doorways to the basilica, the most famous of which are the central one, with the doors from the original basilica decorated by Filarete and the last doorway to the right, the Holy Door opened only for the Jubilee once every 25 years. The high altar in the central nave under the dome is reserved for the Pope and consists of a marble slab found in the Forum of Nerva. Above the high altar rises the baldacchino, created by Bernini from the bronze taken from the beams of the Pantheon; this same artist made the Cattedra of S. Pietro in the apse. In the first chapel on the right there is the Pietà by Michelangelo.
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HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
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The State of the Vatican was officially founded in the Council hall in Palazzo del Laterano on February 11th 1929 with the signature of the Lateran Pacts. It was signed with a gold pen blessed by Pope Pius XI before representatives of Italy and the Holy See. The new State received sovereignty over the whole territory which included Vatican buildings, gardens, the square and the Basilica of St. Peter's plus some adjacent buildings as well as the summer residence of Castel Gandolfo. By virtue of this agreement, the State of Italy was absolutely against excavating galleries under the Vatican. Likewise it was forbidden to excavate under the Vatican as well as flying over its own territory.
Unesco declared the whole Vatican territory as being Vatican cultural heritage of the world. |
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ST. PETER SQUARE |
Constantine had a church built on the Tomb of St. Peter's martyred in 64 a. D. in the Circus of Nero. The five aisled basilica was completed in 349 a. D. and was a centre of pilgrimage for over a thousand years.
In 1506 Pope Julius II decided to build a new basilica. A long period of design and construction ensued, lasting 120 years under various popes and with work by various artists, the famous Fabbrica di S. Pietro.
The square, built by Bernini, is surrounded by an impressive colonnade surmounted by statues of saints. Standing on the left of the obelisk on a circular paving stone we can see the perfect alignment of the four rows of columns. |
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VATICAN GARDENS |
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The first organic works made on pre-existing gardens are due to Pope Innocenzo VIII, who reorganised the area of Belvedere Hill. Bramante was put in charge by Giulio II of building the hanging corridor linking the Palace of Belvedere, which hosts the Antiquarium statues, with papal apartments. A series of garden on different levels connected through stairs were arranged under this corridor. The gardens became part of the villa built by Pirro Ligorio for Pio IV. This villa (Casina) whose construction started under Paolo IV was named after the new Pope who finished the building to make his vacation lace. In the 17th century, the gardens were embellished with scenic fountains. In the 19th century some modifications and restorations set the final configuration, which includes all types of garden. Until the time of Pio XII the gardens were completely closed to the public. Instead today it is possible to visit them on a two hours tour with a guide. |
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"Giudizio
Universale"
Cappella Sistina
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Vatican Gardens |
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