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Thepolitics of Vatican City take place in a framework of atheocraticabsoluteelective monarchy, in which thePope, religiously speaking, the leader of theCatholic Church and Bishop ofRome, exercisesex officio supreme legislative, executive, and judicial power over theVatican City as it is being governed by theHoly See,[1] a rare case of non-hereditary monarchy.
The term "Holy See" refers to the composite of the authority, jurisdiction, and sovereignty vested in the Pope and his advisers to direct the worldwideCatholic Church. It is therefore quite distinct from the Vatican City state, which was created in 1929, through theLateran treaties between the Holy See and Italy.
As the "central government" of the Catholic Church, the Holy See has a legal personality that allows it to enter into treaties as the juridical equal of a state and to send and receive diplomatic representatives. It has formal diplomatic relations with 179 nations.[2] The State of Vatican City, for its part, is recognized under international law as a sovereign territory. Unlike the Holy See, it does not receive or send diplomatic representatives, and the Holy See acts on its behalf in international affairs.
The pope is elected in thepapal conclave, composed of all thecardinal electors which arebishops andarchbishops appointed by the pope, now limited to all the cardinals below the age of 80,after the death orresignation of the previous Pope. The Conclave is held in theSistine Chapel, where all the electors are locked in (Latin:cum clave) until the election for which a two-thirds majority is required. The faithful can follow the results of the polls, usually two in the morning and two in the evening, until election, by a chimney-top, visible fromSt. Peter's Square. The voting papers are burnt in a stove attached to the chimney. Additives make the smoke black (fumata nera) in a case of no election, or white (fumata bianca) when the new pope is elected.
TheDean of the Sacred College (Cardinale Decano) will then ask the freshly elected pope to choose his pastoral name. As soon as the pope is dressed with the whitecassock, theSenior Cardinal-Deacon (Cardinale Protodiacono) appears on the major balcony of St. Peter's façade to introduce the new pope,[3] with theLatin sentenceAnnuntio vobis gaudium magnum:habemus papam (I announce to you a great joy: We have a Pope).
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As with almost all monarchies, the executive, legislative and judicial power of government reside in the crown, in this case in the office of theBishop of Rome (the pope). As with many monarchies, the pope exercises this power through other organs which act on his behalf and in his name.
The pope commonly delegates the internal administration ofVatican City to various bodies and officials. However, according to theFundamental Law of Vatican City State, "TheSupreme Pontiff,sovereign ofVatican City State, has the fullness of legislative, executive, and judicial powers"[4] forVatican City.
The pope delegateslegislative authority for the state to theunicameralPontifical Commission for Vatican City State. This commission was established in 1939 byPope Pius XII. It consists of sevenCardinals appointed by the pope for five-year terms. Laws passed by the Commission must be approved by the pope through theSecretariat of State prior to being published and taking effect.
The President of the Pontifical Commission is also thePresident of the Governorate of Vatican City, to whom the pope delegates executive authority for the state. The president is assisted by a Secretary General and a Vice Secretary General. Each of these officers is appointed by the pope for a five-year term. Actions of the President must be approved by the Commission. Various departments and offices report to the Governorate, handling such issues as communications, internal security, fire protection, and theVatican Museums. TheCorpo della Gendarmeria is the state's security and police force, not thePontifical Swiss Guard, which is an organ of the Holy See, not of Vatican City.
| Office | Name | Party | Since |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sovereign | Leo XIV | 8 May 2025 | |
| President of the Governorate | Raffaella Petrini | 1 March 2025 |
The Pope isex officiosovereign andhead of state of theVatican City State since 1929. He delegates executive authority to thePresident of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State, who isex officio President of the Governorate andde factohead of government of Vatican. The president is appointed by the Pope for a five-year term, but may be removed at any time by the pope.
The president reports all important matters to theSecretariat of State, the Pope's chief everyday advisory body, which is consulted on all matters, even if they belong to the specific competence of the Commission for Vatican City State or, for instance, that of theCongregation for Catholic Education. The Secretariat of State is not thereby considered to hold responsibility for such matters, and the Cardinal Secretary of State is not seen as heading the Vatican City State or the various departments of theRoman Curia, other than the Secretariat of State itself.
Vatican City is a member ofCEPT,Eutelsat,International Grains Council,Intelsat,ITU andUPU.
Vatican City does not have direct diplomatic relations with other states. Its foreign relations are managed by theHoly See. SeeHoly See – Relationship with the Vatican City and other territories.
A unicameralPontifical Commission for Vatican City State, appointed by the Pope, operates as legislative branch, proposing law and policy to the Pope.[5] Prior to taking effect, laws and policies passed by the commission must be approved by theSupreme Pontiff, through theSecretariat of State,[6] and be published in the Italian-language supplement of theActa Apostolicae Sedis that deals withVatican City State matters.
The "Councillors of the State" give their consultation in the drafting of legislation.[7] They may be consulted either alone or collegially.[8]
As a sovereign state,Vatican City has a legal system distinct from that ofItaly. Thepope's judicial authority is exercised through the Prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of theApostolic Signatura, as he by law serves also as the President of the Cassation Court of Vatican City (i.e. the highestcourt of appeal).[9]
The population of the state is a few hundred. Each day outsiders come there to work. 18 million people visit there each year.
In one year its courts tried 640 civil cases and 226 penal cases.[10]
The penal cases are usually for minor crimes such aspickpocketing.[11] If such crimes are committed in Saint Peter's Square, the perpetrators may be arrested and tried by the Italian authorities, since that area is normally patrolled by Italian policemen.[12]
Under the terms of article 22 of theLateran Treaty,[13] Italy will, at the request of the Holy See, punish individuals for crimes committed within Vatican City and will itself proceed against the person who committed the offence, if that person takes refuge in Italian territory. Persons accused of crimes recognized as such both in Italy and in Vatican City that are committed in Italian territory will be handed over to the Italian authorities if they take refuge in Vatican City or in buildings that under the treaty enjoy immunity.[13][14]
Vatican City has no prison system, apart from a few detention cells for pre-trial detention.[15][11] People convicted of committing crimes in the Vatican serve terms in Italian prisons (Polizia Penitenziaria), with costs covered by the Vatican.[16]
Pope Francis signed a newmotu proprio into law in March 2020, which reforms the Vatican's judicial system.[17][18] Themotu proprio, titled Law CCCLI, updates the laws governing the Vatican's judiciary system and also replaced the previous judicial system which was founded in 1987.[18][17]
The new law provides for greater independence of judicial bodies and magistrates dependent on the Pope.[19] It also specifies the requirements for the appointment of judges and it simplifies the judicial system while increasing the staff of the court.[19] Furthermore, it provides a head for the Office of the Promoter of Justice (prosecutor’s office), and sets out a standardized procedure for possible disciplinary action against certified advocates.[19]
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| Sovereign judicial entity under international law (Legal status) |
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| Diocese of Rome withuniversal full communion (Papal primacy) |
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| Properties including extra- territoriality |
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