Last modified: 9 May 2025
The country
The state is known as Città del Vaticano in its national language. This means Vatican City.
Vatican City is a small city-state that exists since 1929. It is an ecclesiastical or sacerdotal- monarchical state. With 44 hectares and a population less than 1000 people it is the smallest country in the world by area and population. It is the seat of the Roman Catholic church, known as the Holy See, and is situated in the heart of Rome, Italy. The head of state is the Pope, who lives at the Papal Apartments in the Papal Palace. The popes have resided in the area since they returned from Avignon, France, in 1377. The Pope has total legislative, executive and judicial power over Vatican City.
Sovereign
The current sovereign, and the 267th Pope, is Leo XIV. He was born as Robert Francis Prevost in Chicago, Ill., USA, on 14 September 1955.
He is the son of Louis Marius Prevost and his wife Mildred Martínez.
Enthronement
On 8 May 2025 Leo XIV was elected the new Pope. He succeeded the 266th Pope, Francis (1936-21 April 2025), who had become Pope on 13 March 2013.
The inauguration will take place in Vatican City in May 2025.
Postal address
Papal Palace
00120 Vatican City State
Succession
The papacy is a non-hereditary elective monarchy. The popes are chosen by the College of Cardinals. The pope is elected for a life term in conclave by cardinals younger than 80.
The popes
| Pius XI (1857-1939) | 1922 (1929)-1939 |
| Pius XII (1876-1958) | 1939-1958 |
| John XXIII (1881-1963) | 1958-1963 |
| Paul VI (1897-1978) | 1963-1978 |
| John Paul I (1897-1978) | 1978 |
| John Paul II (1920-2005) | 1978-2005 |
| Benedict XVI (1927-2022) | 2005-abd. 2013 |
| Francis (1936-2025) | 2013-2025 |
| Leo XIV (1955-) | 2025- |