Holy See - Wikipedia Holy See This article is about the Holy See of Rome. For other uses, see Holy See ( disambiguation ). Not to be confused with Vatican City. Holy See Sancta Sedes ( Latin ) Santa Sede ( Italian ) Saint - Siège ( French ) Emblem Jurisdiction Vatican City Various extraterritorial premises in Rome, Italy Official language Latin Working languages Italian French ( diplomatic ) Type Episcopal see of the Pope as the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church Government Ecclesiastical elective monarchy Pope Pope Francis Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin ISO 3166 code VA Website Vatican.va Holy See This article is part of a series on the politics and government of the Holy See Supreme Pontiff Pope Francis Conclave Sovereigns of the Vatican City College of Cardinals Camerlengo ( Chamberlain ) Dean Secretariat of State Cardinal Secretary Section for Relations with States Congregations Bishops Catholic Education Causes of Saints Clergy Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments Doctrine of the Faith Evangelization of Peoples Oriental Churches Religious Tribunals Apostolic Penitentiary Apostolic Signatura Roman Rota Pontifical Councils Cor Unum Culture Family Interreligious Dialogue Justice and Peace Laity Legislative Texts Pastoral Assistance to Health Care Workers Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People Promoting Christian Unity Promoting the New Evangelisation Social Communications Administrative services Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See Apostolic Camera Prefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See Institutes Office for the Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff Prefecture of the Papal Household Foreign relations Concordats Diplomatic missions Multilateral foreign policy Nuncios Status in international law Lateran Treaty The Holy See and the United Nations Canon law 1983 Code of Canon Law Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches Apostolic Constitution Pastor Bonus Other countries Atlas Vatican City portal Catholicism portal The Holy See ( Italian : Santa Sede ; Latin : Sancta Sedes ; Ecclesiastical Latin : ( ˈsaŋkta ˈsedes ) ), also called the See of Rome, is the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, the episcopal see of the Pope, and an independent sovereign entity. It serves as the central point of reference for the Catholic Church everywhere and the focal point of communion due to its position as the pre-eminent episcopal see of the universal church. Today, it is responsible for the governance of all Catholics, organised in their Particular Churches, Patriarchates and religious institutes. As an independent sovereign entity, holding the Vatican City enclave in Rome as an independent state, it maintains diplomatic relations with other states. It is viewed as analogous to a state while administered by the Roman Curia ( Latin for Roman Court ), similar to a centralised government with the Cardinal Secretary of State as its chief administrator, and various dicasteries, comparable to ministries and executive departments. Diplomatically, the Holy See acts and speaks for the whole church. It is also recognised by other subjects of international law as a sovereign entity, headed by the Pope, with which diplomatic relations can be maintained. Although it is often informally referred to as `` the Vatican '', the `` Holy See '' is not the same entity as the `` Vatican City State '', which came into existence only in 1929 because of the Lateran Treaty ; the Holy See, the episcopal see of Rome, dates back to antiquity. Ambassadors are officially accredited not to the Vatican City State but to `` the Holy See '', and Papal representatives to states and international organizations are recognized as representing the Holy See, not the Vatican City State. The creation of the Vatican City State was meant to ensure the diplomatic and spiritual independence of the Pope. The expression `` the Holy See '' ( without further specification ) is normally used in international relations ( and in the Canon law of the Catholic Church ) to refer to the See of Rome viewed as the central government of the Catholic Church. Contents 1 Terminology 2 Organization 3 Status in international law 3.1 Diplomacy 3.2 Relationship with the Vatican City and other territories 4 Military 5 Coat of arms 6 See also 7 Notes 8 References 9 Further reading 10 External links Terminology The papal throne ( cathedra ), in the apse of Archbasilica of St. John Lateran, symbolises the Holy See. The word `` see '' comes from the Latin word `` sedes '', meaning `` seat '', which refers to the Episcopal throne ( cathedra ). The term `` Apostolic See '' can refer to any see founded by one of the Apostles, but, when used with the definite article, it is used in the Catholic Church to refer specifically to the see of the Bishop of Rome, whom that Church sees as successor of Saint Peter, the Prince of the Apostles. While Saint Peter 's Basilica in Vatican City is perhaps the church most associated with the Papacy, the actual cathedral of the Holy See is the Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran within the city of Rome. Every see is considered holy. In Greek, the adjective `` holy '' or `` sacred '' ( ἱερά transliterated as hiera ) is constantly applied to all such sees as a matter of course. In the West, the adjective is not commonly added, but it does form part of an official title of two sees : besides the Diocese of Rome ( `` the Holy See '' ), the Bishopric of Mainz ( the former Archbishopric of Mainz, which was also of electoral and primatial rank ) bears the title of `` the Holy See of Mainz '' ( Latin : Sancta Sedes Moguntina ). Organization Part of a series on the Catholic Church St. Peter 's Basilica, Vatican City Overview Pope : Francis Hierarchy History ( Timeline ) Theology Liturgy Sacraments Mary Background Jesus Crucifixion Resurrection Ascension Early Christianity History of the Catholic Church History of the papacy Ecumenical councils Four Marks of the Church One true church Apostolic succession Organisation Holy See College of Cardinals Ecumenical councils Episcopal polity Latin Church Eastern Churches Canon law Theology Trinity Father Son Holy Spirit Ten Commandments Three States of the Church Purgatory Paschal mystery Passion Crucifixion Harrowing of Hell Resurrection Ascension Mary Mariology Veneration Immaculate Conception Theotokos Perpetual virginity Assumption Titles Morality Body Lectures Sexuality Apologetics Divine grace Salvation Original sin Saints Dogma Catechism Philosophy Natural law Catholic ethics Personalism Social teaching Philosophers Worship Liturgy Mass Divine Office Liturgical year Sacraments Baptism Penance Eucharist Confirmation Anointing of the Sick Matrimony Holy orders Prayer Devotions Bible Biblical canon Rites Latin Roman Ordinary form Tridentine Anglican Use Zaire Use Gallican Ambrosian Braga Mozarabic Eastern Antiochene Maronite West Syriac Syro - Malankara Chaldean East Syriac Syro - Malabar Byzantine Armenian Alexandrian Ethiopic Controversies Antipopes Anti-Catholicism Criticism Homosexuality Sex and gender roles Sexual abuse cases Other topics Art Ecumenism Evolution Health care Monasticism Music Science Role in civilization Relations with : Islam Judaism Pandeism Links and resources Index Outline Glossary Category Media Templates WikiProject Book Pope portal Vatican City portal Catholicism portal Main article : Roman Curia The Holy See is among Saudi Arabia, Swaziland, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Brunei, and Oman one of the last remaining seven absolute monarchies in the world. The Pope governs the Catholic Church through the Roman Curia. The Roman Curia consists of a complex of offices that administer church affairs at the highest level, including the Secretariat of State, nine Congregations, three Tribunals, eleven Pontifical Councils, and seven Pontifical Commissions. The Secretariat of State, under the Cardinal Secretary of State, directs and coordinates the Curia. The incumbent, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, is the See 's equivalent of a prime minister. Archbishop Paul Gallagher, Secretary of the Section for Relations with States of the Secretariat of State, acts as the Holy See 's minister of foreign affairs. Parolin was named in his role by Pope Francis on 31 August 2013. Vatican City, the Holy See 's sovereign territory The Secretariat of State is the only body of the Curia that is situated within Vatican City. The others are in buildings in different parts of Rome that have extraterritorial rights similar to those of embassies. Among the most active of the major Curial institutions are the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which oversees the Catholic Church 's doctrine ; the Congregation for Bishops, which coordinates the appointment of bishops worldwide ; the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, which oversees all missionary activities ; and the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, which deals with international peace and social issues. Three tribunals exercise judicial power. The Roman Rota handles normal judicial appeals, the most numerous being those that concern alleged nullity of marriage. The Apostolic Signatura is the supreme appellate and administrative court concerning decisions even of the Roman Rota and administrative decisions of ecclesiastical superiors ( bishops and superiors of religious institutes ), such as closing a parish or removing someone from office. It also oversees the work of other ecclesiastical tribunals at all levels. The Apostolic Penitentiary deals not with external judgments or decrees, but with matters of conscience, granting absolutions from censures, dispensations, commutations, validations, condonations, and other favors ; it also grants indulgences. The Prefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See coordinates the finances of the Holy See departments and supervises the administration of all offices, whatever be their degree of autonomy, that manage these finances. The most important of these is the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See. The Prefecture of the Papal Household is responsible for the organization of the papal household, audiences, and ceremonies ( apart from the strictly liturgical part ). The Holy See does not dissolve upon a Pope 's death or resignation. It instead operates under a different set of laws sede vacante. During this interregnum, the heads of the dicasteries of the Roman Curia ( such as the prefects of congregations ) cease immediately to hold office, the only exceptions being the Major Penitentiary, who continues his important role regarding absolutions and dispensations, and the Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, who administers the temporalities ( i.e., properties and finances ) of the See of St. Peter during this period. The government of the See, and therefore of the Catholic Church, then falls to the College of Cardinals. Canon law prohibits the College and the Camerlengo from introducing any innovations or novelties in the government of the Church during this period. In 2001, the Holy See had a revenue of 422.098 billion Italian lire ( about 202 million USD at the time ), and a net income of 17.720 billion Italian lire ( about 8 million USD ). According to an article by David Leigh in the Guardian newspaper, a 2012 report from the Council of Europe identified the value of a section of the Vatican 's property assets as an amount in excess of € 680m ( £ 570m ) ; as of January 2013, Paolo Mennini, a papal official in Rome, manages this portion of the Holy See 's assets -- consisting of British investments, other European holdings and a currency trading arm. The Guardian newspaper described Mennini and his role in the following manner : ``... Paolo Mennini, who is in effect the pope 's merchant banker. Mennini heads a special unit inside the Vatican called the extraordinary division of APSA -- Amministrazione del Patrimonio della Sede Apostolica -- which handles the `` patrimony of the Holy See ''. '' Status in international law Main article : Legal status of the Holy See The Holy See has been recognized, both in state practice and in the writing of modern legal scholars, as a subject of public international law, with rights and duties analogous to those of States. Although the Holy See, as distinct from the Vatican City State, does not fulfill the long - established criteria in international law of statehood -- having a permanent population, a defined territory, a stable government and the capacity to enter into relations with other states -- its possession of full legal personality in international law is shown by the fact that it maintains diplomatic relations with 180 states, that it is a member - state in various intergovernmental international organizations, and that it is : `` respected by the international community of sovereign States and treated as a subject of international law having the capacity to engage in diplomatic relations and to enter into binding agreements with one, several, or many states under international law that are largely geared to establish and preserving peace in the world. '' Diplomacy Main article : Foreign relations of the Holy See Further information : Diplomatic missions of the Holy See, Holy See and the United Nations, and Multilateral foreign policy of the Holy See Foreign relations with the Holy See. Diplomatic relations Other relations No relations Since medieval times the episcopal see of Rome has been recognized as a sovereign entity. The Holy See ( not the State of Vatican City ) maintains formal diplomatic relations with and for the most recent establishment of diplomatic relations with 183 sovereign states, and also with the European Union, and the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, as well as having relations of a special character with the Palestine Liberation Organization ; 69 of the diplomatic missions accredited to the Holy See are situated in Rome. The Holy See maintains 180 permanent diplomatic missions abroad, of which 74 are non-residential, so that many of its 106 concrete missions are accredited to two or more countries or international organizations. The diplomatic activities of the Holy See are directed by the Secretariat of State ( headed by the Cardinal Secretary of State ), through the Section for Relations with States. There are 15 internationally recognized states with which the Holy See does not have relations. The Holy See is the only European subject of international law that has diplomatic relations with the government of the Republic of China ( usually known as Taiwan ) as representing China, rather than the government of the People 's Republic of China ( see Holy See -- Taiwan relations ). The British Foreign and Commonwealth Office speaks of Vatican City as the `` capital '' of the Holy See, although it compares the legal personality of the Holy See to that of the Crown in Christian monarchies and declares that the Holy See and the state of Vatican City are two international identities. It also distinguishes between the employees of the Holy See ( 2,750 working in the Roman Curia with another 333 working in the Holy See 's diplomatic missions abroad ) and the 1,909 employees of the Vatican City State. The British Ambassador to the Holy See uses more precise language, saying that the Holy See `` is not the same as the Vatican City State.... ( It ) is the universal government of the Catholic Church and operates from the Vatican City State. '' This agrees exactly with the expression used by the website of the United States Department of State, in giving information on both the Holy See and the Vatican City State : it too says that the Holy See `` operates from the Vatican City State ''. The Holy See is a member of various International organizations and groups including the International Atomic Energy Agency ( IAEA ), International Telecommunication Union, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe ( OSCE ), the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons ( OPCW ) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees ( UNHCR ). The Holy See is also a permanent observer in various international organizations, including the United Nations General Assembly, the Council of Europe, UNESCO ( United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization ), the World Trade Organization ( WTO ), and the Food and Agriculture Organization ( FAO ). Relationship with the Vatican City and other territories This article is part a series on the Vatican City History Duchy of Rome 533 -- 751 Donation of Pepin 750s Papal States 754 -- 1870 Annates Congregation for Borders Fundamental Statute for the Secular Government of the States of the Church Capture of Rome 1870 `` Prisoner in the Vatican '' 1870 -- 1929 Lateran Treaty 1929 Vatican City 1929 -- present 2010 Vatican sex scandal History of the Catholic Church since 1962 History of the Papacy Roman Historical Institutes Savoyard Era Vatileaks scandal Vatican Historical Museum Vatican City during World War II Law Acta Apostolicae Sedis Fundamental Law of Vatican City State Capital punishment in Vatican City Crime in Vatican City Lateran Treaty Legal status of the Holy See Temporal power of the papacy Tribunal of Vatican City State ( Alperin v. Vatican Bank ) ( Doe v. Holy See ) LGBT rights in Vatican City Pontifical Swiss Guard Corps of Firefighters of the Vatican City State Corps of Gendarmerie of Vatican City Politics and government Archives Association of Vatican Lay Workers Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State President Pontifical Commission Secretariat for Communications Holy See Press Office L'Osservatore Romano ( Vatican City newspaper ) L'Osservatore della Domenica List of newspapers in Vatican City Vatican Radio lawsuit Vatican Information Service. va ( Vatican City internet sites ) Vatican Publishing House Vatican Radio Vatican Television Center Secretariat of State Cardinal Secretary of State Fabric of Saint Peter Foreign relations of the Holy See List of diplomatic missions of the Holy See Holy See -- Israel relations Holy See -- Italy relations Holy See -- Palestine relations Papal apocrisiarius Governorate of Vatican City Governor of Vatican City Military of Vatican City Noble Guard College of Cardinals Vical General Culture Vatican Museums Vatican Library Music of Vatican City Sistine Chapel Choir Languages of Vatican City Women in Vatican City Vatican Christmas Tree Vatican City football team Vatican Cricket Team Papal Concert to Commemorate the Shoah Postage stamps and postal history of Vatican City Public holidays in Vatican City Pontifical Academy of Sciences Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences The Story of the Vatican, 1941 documentary Symbols Flag List of Papal Flags Anthem Coats of arms of the Holy See and Vatican City 00120 ( Vatican postcode ) Papal tiara Papal coronation Buildings / Geography Apostolic Nunciature Apostolic Palace Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore Borgia Apartments Bramante Staircase Domus Sanctae Marthae Fountains of St. Peter 's Square Gardens of Vatican City Geography of Vatican City Gregorian Tower Mater Ecclesiae ( monastery ) Monument to the Royal Stuarts Palace of the Holy Office Palazzi Pontifici Papal Apartments Saint Peter 's Basilica Saint Peter 's Square Saint Peter 's tomb Lateran Basilica Lateran Palace Leonine City Niccoline Chapel Old St. Peter 's Basilica Papal tombs Papal tombs in Old St. Peter 's Basilica Paul VI Audience Hall Tomb of the Julii Torre San Giovanni Scala Regia Via della Conciliazione Vatican Climate Forest Vatican Heliport Vatican Hill Vatican Necropolis Papal Concert to Commemorate the Shoah Postage stamps and postal history of Vatican City Public holidays in Vatican City Vatican Secret Archives St. Peter 's Baldachin Sala Regia San Pellegrino in Vaticano Sant'Anna dei Palafrenieri Santa Maria della Pietà in Camposanto dei Teutonici Vatican Advanced Technology Telescope Vatican Observatory Vatican Pharmacy Bibliotheca Palatina Cappella Giulia Cappella Paolina Cardinal Secretary of State Casina Pio IV Circus of Nero Redemptoris Mater Chapel Saints Martin and Sebastian of the Swiss Santo Stefano degli Abissini Santo Stefano degli Ungheresi Teutonic Cemetery Cortile del Belvedere Passetto di Borgo Porta San Pellegrino Vatican Museums Vatican Museums Gallery of Maps Gallery of Sistine Chapel ceiling Collection of Modern Religious Art Raphael Rooms Redemptoris Mater Chapel Restoration of the Sistine Chapel frescoes Sistine Chapel Sistine Chapel ceiling The Last Judgment by Michelangelo Economy Institute for the Works of Religion Telephone numbers in Vatican City Tourism in Vatican City Transport in Vatican City Rail transport in Vatican City Secretariat for the Economy Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See Prefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See Vatican euro coins Vatican lira Properties of the Holy See Papacy Pope Popemobile Catholic Church Latin Church Holy See Diocese of Rome Roman Curia Universi Dominici Gregis Papal conclave ( Papal elections ) Papal household Papal Gentleman Prefecture of the Pontifical Household Outline, Index Vatican City portal The Holy See participates as an observer to African Union, Arab League, Council of Europe, Organization of American States, International Organization for Migration, and in the United Nations and its agencies FAO, ILO, UNCTAD, UNEP, UNESCO, UN-HABITAT, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, WFP, WHO, WIPO. It participates as a guest in the Non-Aligned Movement ( NAM ), and as a full member in IAEA, OPCW, Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe ( OSCE ). Although the Holy See is closely associated with the Vatican City, the independent territory over which the Holy See is sovereign, the two entities are separate and distinct. After the Italian seizure of the Papal States in 1870, the Holy See had no territorial sovereignty. In spite of some uncertainty among jurists as to whether it could continue to act as an independent personality in international matters, the Holy See continued in fact to exercise the right to send and receive diplomatic representatives, maintaining relations with states that included the major powers Russia, Prussia and Austria - Hungary. Where, in accordance with the decision of the 1815 Congress of Vienna, the Nuncio was not only a member of the Diplomatic Corps but its dean, this arrangement continued to be accepted by the other ambassadors. In the course of the 59 years during which the Holy See held no territorial sovereignty, the number of states that had diplomatic relations with it, which had been reduced to 16, actually increased to 29. The State of the Vatican City was created by the Lateran Treaty in 1929 to `` ensure the absolute and visible independence of the Holy See '' and `` to guarantee to it an indisputable sovereignty in international affairs. '' Archbishop Jean - Louis Tauran, the Holy See 's former Secretary for Relations with States, said that the Vatican City is a `` minuscule support - state that guarantees the spiritual freedom of the Pope with the minimum territory ''. The Holy See, not the Vatican City, maintains diplomatic relations with states. Foreign embassies are accredited to the Holy See, not to the Vatican City, and it is the Holy See that establishes treaties and concordats with other sovereign entities. When necessary, the Holy See will enter a treaty on behalf of the Vatican City. Under the terms of the Lateran Treaty, the Holy See has extraterritorial authority over various sites in Rome and two Italian sites outside of Rome, including the Pontifical Palace at Castel Gandolfo. The same authority is extended under international law over the Apostolic Nunciature of the Holy See in a foreign country. Military See also : Military in Vatican City Though, like various European powers, earlier Popes recruited Swiss mercenaries as part of an army, the Pontifical Swiss Guard was founded by Pope Julius II on 22 January 1506 as the personal bodyguard of the Pope and continues to fulfill that function. It is listed in the Annuario Pontificio under `` Holy See '', not under `` State of Vatican City ''. At the end of 2005, the Guard had 134 members. Recruitment is arranged by a special agreement between the Holy See and Switzerland. All recruits must be Catholic, unmarried males with Swiss citizenship who have completed their basic training with the Swiss Armed Forces with certificates of good conduct, be between the ages of 19 and 30, and be at least 175 cm ( 5 ft 9 in ) in height. Members are armed with small arms and the traditional halberd ( also called the Swiss voulge ), and trained in bodyguarding tactics. The police force within Vatican City, known as the Corps of Gendarmerie of Vatican City, belongs to the city state, not to the Holy See. Coat of arms Coat of arms of the Holy See Arms of Vatican City State Further information : Coats of arms of the Holy See and Vatican City The difference between the two coats of arms is that the arms of the Holy See have the gold key in bend and the silver key in bend sinister ( as in the sede vacante coat of arms and in the external ornaments of the papal coats of arms of individual popes ), while the reversed arrangement of the keys was chosen for the arms of the newly founded Vatican City State in 1929. See also Catholicism portal Apostolic see Diocese of Rome Global organisation of the Catholic Church Index of Vatican City - related articles Patriarchate Pontifical academy Pope2you Sovereign Military Order of Malta Notes Jump up ^ Although Saint John Lateran is legally within Rome, Italy, it is one of the properties of the Holy See granted extraterritorial privileges. References Jump up ^ `` About the Holy See ''. Jump up ^ https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/print_vt.html Jump up ^ `` Archived copy ''. Archived from the original on 31 December 2010. Retrieved 5 February 2016. Jump up ^ The Holy See 's sovereignty has been recognized explicitly in many international agreements and is particularly emphasized in article 2 of the Lateran Treaty of 11 February 1929, in which `` Italy recognizes the sovereignty of the Holy See in international matters as an inherent attribute in conformity with its traditions and the requirements of its mission to the world '' ( Lateran Treaty, English translation ). Jump up ^ `` Code of Canon Law : text - IntraText CT ''. Jump up ^ `` CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA : St. Peter, Prince of the Apostles ''. Jump up ^ Kersting, Hans ( 2003 ). MAINZ - tours on foot. 4. Bayerische Verlagsanstalt. ISBN 3 - 89889 - 078 - 3. Jump up ^ `` CIA 's factbook Vatican State ''. Jump up ^ `` State and Government ''. www.vaticanstate.va. Retrieved 2018 - 04 - 01. Jump up ^ `` These 7 nations are ruled by an absolute monarchy ! ''. Stories of World. 2015 - 12 - 22. Retrieved 2018 - 04 - 01. Jump up ^ `` Archived copy ''. Archived from the original on 22 September 2013. Retrieved 28 October 2013. Jump up ^ Code of Canon Law, canons 1443 -- 1444 Archived 8 January 2010 at the Wayback Machine... Vatican.va. Retrieved on 11 September 2011. Jump up ^ Code of Canon Law, canon 1445 Archived 8 January 2010 at the Wayback Machine... Vatican.va. Retrieved on 11 September 2011. Jump up ^ ' ' Pastor bonus ' ', articles 117 -- 120 Archived 23 February 2001 at the Wayback Machine... The Vatican. ( 28 June 1988 ). Retrieved on 11 September 2011. Jump up ^ `` Economic Report of the Holy See for 2000 '' Zenit 6 July 2001 Jump up ^ David Leigh ( 21 January 2013 ). `` How the Vatican built a secret property empire using Mussolini 's millions ''. The Guardian. Retrieved 23 January 2013. Jump up ^ These criteria for statehood were first authoritatively enunciated at the Montevideo Convention on Rights and Duties of States, signed by American states on 26 December 1933. ^ Jump up to : `` Bilateral and Multilateral Relations of the Holy See, update on October 22, 2009 ''. Archived from the original on 9 July 2014. Jump up ^ e.g. IAEA, OSCE, IOM Archived 12 December 2007 at the Wayback Machine. Jump up ^ Robert Araujo and John Lucal, Papal Diplomacy and the Quest for Peace, the Vatican and International Organizations from the early years to the League of Nations, Sapienza Press ( 2004 ), ISBN 1 - 932589 - 01 - 5, p. 16. See also James Crawford, The Creation of States in International Law, ( 1979 ) p. 154. Jump up ^ Bilateral and Multilateral Relations of the Holy See Archived 12 October 2010 at the Wayback Machine... The Vatican. ( 31 May 2007 ). Retrieved on 11 September 2011. Jump up ^ `` 179 states have full diplomatic relations with the Holy See ''. Zenit News Agency. 11 January 2012. Archived from the original on 16 January 2012. Retrieved 20 January 2012. Jump up ^ Afghanistan, Bhutan, Brunei, Comoros, Laos, the Maldives, North Korea, Oman, the People 's Republic of China, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Tuvalu and Vietnam. See : `` Mission Impossible : Eject the Holy See from the United Nations ''. chiesa : News, analysis, and documents on the Catholic Church, by Sandro Magister. 21 August 2007. Retrieved 3 October 2007. Jump up ^ Holy See Press Office : `` Bilateral and Multilateral Relations of the Holy See '' Archived 6 September 2014 at the Wayback Machine. Jump up ^ Annuario Pontificio 2013 ( Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 2013, ISBN 978 - 88 - 209 - 9070 - 1 ), pp. 1307 ( Rappresentanze Pontificie ) and 1338 ( Corpo Diplomatico presso la Santa Sede ) Jump up ^ Foreign & Commonwealth Office : Travel & living abroad Retrieved 8 January 2011 Archived 31 December 2010 at the Wayback Machine. Jump up ^ Ambassador 's Address on UK - Holy See Relations Archived 13 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine. ( emphasis added ) Jump up ^ Background Note : Holy See. State.gov ( 8 March 2011 ). Retrieved on 11 September 2011. Jump up ^ Lecture by Archbishop Giovanni Lajolo, 16 February 2006. 30giorni.it. Retrieved on 11 September 2011. Jump up ^ Lecture by Archbishop Jean - Louis Tauran, 22 April 2002 Archived 15 February 2014 at the Wayback Machine... Vatican.va. Retrieved on 11 September 2011. Jump up ^ Bilateral and Multilateral Relations of the Holy See Archived 9 July 2014 at the Wayback Machine... Vatican.va. Retrieved on 11 September 2011. Jump up ^ `` Päpstliche Schweizergarde : 1506 Foundation ''. 30 October 2013. Archived from the original on 30 October 2013. Jump up ^ Annuario Pontificio 2013 ( Libreria Editrice Vaticana 2013 ), p. 1269 Jump up ^ https://archive.is/20130421222339/http://www.swissguard.va/index.php?id=265&L=3 Jump up ^ `` Swiss Voulge ''. Jump up ^ See videos at Pontifical Swiss Guards, Gallery Jump up ^ Donald Lindsay Galbreath, A Treatise on Ecclesiastical Heraldry ( W. Heffer and sons, Limited, 1930 ), Volume 1, p. 9 Jump up ^ `` The golden key, which points upwards on the dexter side, signifies the power that extends even to Heaven. The silver key, which must point up to the sinister side, symbolizes the power over all the faithful on earth. '' Bruno Bernhard Heim, Heraldry in the Catholic Church : Its Origin, Customs and Laws ( Van Duren 1978 ISBN 9780391008731 ), p. 54 Jump up ^ `` Appendix B ( '' All. B. Stemma Ufficiale dello Stato della Città del Vaticano `` ) of the Fundamental Law of Vatican City State, 7 June 1929 '' ( PDF ). Further reading Köck, Heribert F. ( 1975 ). Die Völkerrechtliche Stellung Des Heiligen Stuhls : Dargestellt an Seiner Beziehungen Zu Staaten Und Internationalen Organisationen. Berlin : Duncker und Humblot. ISBN 3 - 428 - 03355 - 8. Köck, Heribert F. ( 1995 ). `` Holy See ''. In Bernhardt, Rudolf ; Macalister - Smith, Peter. Max Planck Encyclopedia of Public International Law. 2. Amsterdam : North - Holland. ISBN 0 - 444 - 86245 - 5. La Due, William J. ( 1999 ). The Chair of Saint Peter : A History of the Papacy. Maryknoll, N.Y : Orbis Books. ISBN 1 - 57075 - 249 - 4. External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to Holy See. Look up holy see in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. The Holy See The Holy See News Portal ( News.va ) The Vatican 's channel on YouTube Primacy of the Apostolic See CIA World Factbook on Holy See Between Venus and Mars, the Church of Rome Chooses Both -- The Holy See 's geopolitics analyzed in the light of the dominant doctrines The Holy See in the course of time, from an Orthodox perspective Inside the Vatican Documentary on National Geographic YouTube channel Holy See topics ( Latin : Sancta Sedes ) Jurisdiction Rome, Italy Vatican City Basilicas St. John Lateran St. Peter 's Santa Maria Maggiore San Paolo fuori le Mura Government Papacy Secretariat of State Roman Curia College of Cardinals Congregations Councils Apostolic Camera Properties Vatican City Officials Pope Secretary of State Dean Camerlengo Foreign affairs Foreign relations Section for Relations with States Diplomatic missions to / of the Holy See Legal status Multilateral policy Nuncio Nunciature Concordats Treaties Lateran Pacts Italy United Nations Vicariates Rome 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Question: where is the country of holy see located
Answer: Rome