Located on a hill in the northwest corner of Rome, the capital of Italy, the Vatican is the world's most "pocket-sized" country, known as the "country within a city".
(Aerial view of the Vatican)
The area of the Vatican is only 0.44 square kilometers, which is equivalent to three-fifths of the Forbidden City in Beijing. The entire territory is triangular in shape, and the territory includes St. Peter's Square, St. Peter's Basilica, The Pontifical Palace, the Pope's Summer Resort and the Vatican Museums, and is surrounded by walls. One of these, St. Peter's Church is open to the public. The Vatican's national gate, located on the left side of the church, is a sturdy iron gate guarded by heavily armed guards.
The Vatican's permanent population is less than 600 people, mostly Italian. Most of these people were clergy, consisting of bishops, priests, and nuns. The proportion of men among these inhabitants is as high as 95 per cent, and there are only more than 30 women in the country. There are only more than 200 residents living in the Vatican.
Because the Vatican is too small, the whole country does not have any industry, agriculture and natural resources. The country's economy is supported mainly by tourism, as well as bank loans, house rentals, stamp issuance, donations from believers, and tributes to the pope.
The Vatican is a theocratic state, and the supreme leader of the country is the Pope. The Pope claimed to be "Christ's representative on earth" with supreme theocracy. At the same time, it has the highest executive, legislative and judicial powers, and is elected by the Cardinal Conference by a two-thirds majority for life.
However, it is such a country of bullets, but it is the center of the world's Catholic Church, the seat of the Catholic Church. With more than 1 billion Catholics around the world, it is the most powerful religious country, and its influence is no less than that of any superpower in the world.
In 1984, UNESCO inscribed the entire vatican on the World Heritage List. In this small country, a number of unparalleled works of art and architectural masterpieces are concentrated, attracting millions of tourists to visit and visit every year.
(Papal photograph)
So why is this land so magical? So small, why didn't anyone think of destroying it?
First, the Vatican has an ancient and long history.
The Vatican, which means "land of the prophets" in Latin, was the center of the medieval papal states. In the 6th century AD, the Bishop of Rome gained de facto rule over the region, known as the "Pope". It was also during this period that St. Peter's Basilica and the Vatican Palace were built.
Around 750 AD, the "Papal State" was established, and the territory under its direct jurisdiction reached more than 40,000 square kilometers. At the end of the 14th century, the Vatican became the main residence of the Pope. In 1870, an uprising broke out in Rome against papal rule, and after being stripped of power, the pope retreated to the Vatican Palace in the northwest corner of Rome.
In 1929, the Italian government signed the Treaty of Lateran with the Pope, recognizing the Vatican as a sovereign state, and the Vatican became an independent city-state, with the Pope enjoying the right to rule the country. The vatican after independence is a neutral country, and although its territory is small, it is sacred and inviolable.
(Pope and Catholic)
Second, the Vatican has a strong international influence.
The Vatican is the most influential country in the world's religious circles, the Pope controls the global Catholic Church, is the spiritual leader of all believers, has supreme authority, and has the supreme power in faith, morality, discipline and administration.
There are more than 1 billion Catholics worldwide, half of whom are in the Americas, accounting for nearly 50% of the world's Catholics. Europe accounted for 25 per cent, Africa for 14 per cent, Oceania for 1 per cent and Asia for 10 per cent. Unlike Islam, another major religion, the Catholic Church is more tightly organized and more cohesive.
To put it bluntly, as soon as the Pope of the Vatican stomps his feet, the whole world will be shaken.
Such a pope would, of course, play a pivotal role in international affairs. Since independence, the Vatican has established formal diplomatic relations with 179 countries and regions. Successive popes have traveled to more than 100 countries, often meeting with heads of state and expressing their views, and in addition to fulfilling the primary task of "doing a good job in people's souls", it is also the unshirkable responsibility of the pope to promote religious reconciliation and world peace.
During the reign of Pope John Paul II, diplomacy was most active. He has strongly called for a ban on the development of nuclear weapons. Religious influence is also used to mediate international disputes. When Britain and Argentina went to war, he traveled between the two countries, calling for a peaceful negotiated settlement. After the outbreak of the Iraq War, he also strongly expressed his anti-war stance. Even when Bush visited the Vatican, Paul II told Bush in person that he opposed the chaos of war and hoped to settle the dispute by peaceful means.
in St. Peter's Square
Third, the Vatican has a splendid culture.
In addition to its lofty religious status, the Vatican has a splendid culture and art. Its artistic masterpieces are mainly concentrated in St. Peter's Basilica, St. Peter's Square and the Vatican Museums.
St. Peter's Basilica itself is an artistic treasure, the largest church in the world and the calling card and symbol of the Vatican. St. Peter's Square is a place of pilgrimage and assembly for many Catholics, as well as a place for the Pope to give speeches and meet with congregations.
The Vatican Museums are simply a temple of art and a treasure trove, and his collection of hundreds of thousands of objects is breathtaking. There are not only precious cultural relics from the early Days of Christianity, but also rare works of art from ancient Egypt and Rome, and even religious relics from the Renaissance.
On the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, the classic works of the great Italian Renaissance painter Michelangelo are still preserved, "Genesis" and "Mother and Son", of which "Mother and Son" is also Michelangelo's only signature work.
(Touristy Vatican)
Fourth, the Vatican is full of tourists.
It is precisely because of the Vatican's rich religious culture and unparalleled artistic atmosphere that it attracts a large number of tourists every year. St. Peter's Square, St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and other places are all places that tourists must visit.
If you can come to St. Peter's Square on New Year's Day, Christmas and Easter, you can also witness the Pope's majesty and receive his blessings.
In addition, the stamps issued by the Vatican are also the favorite of the majority of philatelic enthusiasts. If it can be stamped with the postmark of the vatican's only post office, it is even more precious.
The Vatican is such a country, it has a mysterious and solemn religious atmosphere, but also has a majestic art hall and precious art treasures, which makes people awe-inspiring.
(Reference: Vatican, a holy site of the Catholic Church)