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conventional long form: The Holy See (State of the Vatican City)
conventional short form:
Holy See (Vatican City)
local long form:
Santa Sede (Stato della Citta del Vaticano)
local short form:
Santa Sede (Citta del Vaticano)
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ecclesiastical
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name: Vatican City
geographic coordinates:
41 54 N, 12 27 E
time difference:
UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
daylight saving time:
+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
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none
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11 February 1929 (from Italy); note - the three treaties signed with Italy on 11 February 1929 acknowledged, among other things, the full sovereignty of the Vatican and established its territorial extent; however, the origin of the Papal States, which over the years have varied considerably in extent, may be traced back to the 8th century
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Election Day of Pope BENEDICT XVI, 19 April (2005)
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Fundamental Law promulgated by Pope JOHN PAUL II on 26 November 2000, effective 22 February 2001 (replaced the first Fundamental Law of 1929)
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based on Code of Canon Law and revisions to it; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
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limited to cardinals less than 80 years old
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chief of state: Pope BENEDICT XVI (since 19 April 2005)
head of government:
Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio BERTONE (since 15 September 2006)
cabinet:
Pontifical Commission for the State of Vatican City appointed by the pope
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections:
pope elected for life by the College of Cardinals; election last held on 19 April 2005 (next to be held after the death of the current pope); secretary of state appointed by the pope
election results:
Joseph RATZINGER elected Pope BENEDICT XVI
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unicameral Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State
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there are three tribunals responsible for civil and criminal matters within Vatican City; three other tribunals rule on issues pertaining to the Holy See
note:
judicial duties were established by the Motu Proprio, papal directive, of Pope PIUS XII on 1 May 1946
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none
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none (exclusive of influence exercised by church officers)
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CE (observer), IAEA, Interpol, IOM (observer), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, Schengen Convention (de facto member), UN (observer), UNCTAD, UNHCR, Union Latina (observer), UNWTO (observer), UPU, WFTU, WIPO, WTO (observer)
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chief of mission: Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Pietro SAMBI
chancery:
3339 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
[1] (202) 333-7121
FAX:
[1] (202) 337-4036
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chief of mission: Ambassador Miguel Humberto DIAZ
embassy:
Villa Domiziana, Via delle Terme Deciane 26, 00153 Rome
mailing address:
PSC 833, Box 66, APO AE 09624
telephone:
[39] (06) 4674-3428
FAX:
[39] (06) 575-3411
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two vertical bands of yellow (hoist side) and white with the arms of the Holy See, consisting of the crossed keys of Saint Peter surmounted by the three-tiered papal tiara, centered in the white band; the yellow color represents the pope's spiritual power, the white his worldly power
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