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Vatican City Facts & Worksheets

Vatican City, officially Vatican City State, is the world's smallest fully independent country with an area of 44 hectares and a population of about 1,000.

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Vatican City, officially Vatican City State, is the world’s smallest fully independent country with an area of 44 hectares and a population of about 1,000. It is an enclave, which means a portion of a territory within or surrounded by a larger territory, in which case, the city of Rome, Italy.

See the fact file below for more information on the Vatican City or alternatively, you can download our 19-page Vatican City worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

HISTORY

  • It is assumed that this initially uninhabited part of Rome had been viewed as consecrated, even before the appearance of Christianity. The name “Vatican” was at that point being used in the hour of the Roman Republic for the Ager Vaticanus.
  • The first church was built in 326 on what was believed to be the tomb of Saint Peter. From then on, the area started to become more populated.
  • The papal states, which included most of Italy, were ruled by the popes. Catholic popes had tried to stop Italy from becoming one country because they worried that they would lose control of at least one of the Papal states. Under the King of Savoy in 1861, Italy was reunited but Rome and Lazio remained undefeated.
  • Upon the election of the pope as the head of the Roman Catholic Church, the sovereignty was exercised.
  • Within the city, the pope has absolute executive, legislative, and judicial powers.
  • The popes did not live at the Vatican most of the time. Their habitual residence was the Lateran Palace for about a thousand years.
  • The Vatican got control of territory all over Rome and served as capital of the Papal States during the period from the 4th century to 1870. It was in 1929 when the independent sovereignty of Vatican City was recognized by the Fascist Italian government in the Lateran Treaty.

GEOGRAPHY

  • The word “Vatican” predates Christianity and derives from the Latin Mons Vaticanus, which means “Vatican Mount.” Vatican City territory is part of Mons Vaticanus and the former Vatican Fields that is next to it.
  • The Vatican City is located on the Vatican Hill, the northwestern part of Rome. Its city wall was constructed to protect the pope from outside attack.
  • In this territory, the Basilica of St. Peter, the Apostolic Palace, the Sistine Chapel, and museums have been built.
  • The climate of Vatican City is naturally much the same as that of Rome.
  • It is a temperate, Mediterranean climate with cool, rainy winters from September through mid-May and hot, dry summers from May through September.

ECONOMY AND CULTURE

  • The budget of the Vatican City State includes the post office and the Vatican Museums.
  • They are financially supported by the sale of stamps, coins, medals, tourist memorabilia, museum admission fees, and the sale of publications.
  • The earnings and living standards of lay workers are comparable to, or somewhat better than, those of counterparts who work in the city of Rome.
  • The Vatican City is home to some of great cultural significance.
  • Buildings like St. Peter’s Basilica, a renowned work of Renaissance architecture, and the Sistine Chapel that is famous for its frescos, are home to what is considered some of the world’s most beautiful art, including works by artists like Botticelli, Bernini, and Michelangelo.
  • Vatican City has a huge and valuable library. Vatican Museum collections are of the greatest historical, scientific, and cultural significance.
  • It was also added to the List of World Heritage Sites by UNESCO in 1984.

POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT

  • Vatican City’s politics take place in an absolute elective monarchy, where the president of the Catholic Church takes power.
  • The Vatican Palace, within the city walls, is the pope’s residence. The Holy See is the name given to the Roman Catholic Church government, which is headed by the pope as Rome’s bishop.
  • Suchlike, the authority of the Holy See extends throughout the world toward Catholics. It has existed in Vatican City since 1929, which was established as an independent state in order to allow the pope to exercise his universal authority.

TOURIST ATTRACTIONS

  • St. Peter’s Basilica. It is the best known landmark that was designed by Michelangelo. It is praised for its dome. The well-proportioned design of the building means its hugeness is often overlooked by visitors who are primarily awe-struck by its interior beauty. It is often called “the greatest church in Christendom.”
  • Vatican Museums. The 500-year old Vatican Museums are a collection of some of the globe’s greatest art galleries. They are best known for the spiral staircase, Raphael Rooms, and the Sistine Chapel. They are open Monday to Saturday and the last Sunday of the month, and the museums must be toured by a one-way route due to the crowds.

Vatican City Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about the Vatican City across 19 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Vatican City worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about the Vatican City, officially Vatican City State, which is the world’s smallest fully independent country with an area of 44 hectares and a population of about 1,000. It is an enclave, which means a portion of a territory within or surrounded by a larger territory, in which case, the city of Rome, Italy.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

  • Vatican City Facts
  • To Vatican’s Name
  • Fascinating Facts
  • History Timeline
  • Truth or Lie
  • Pope Poem
  • No to Divorce
  • Catholic Beliefs
  • Two Popes
  • Getting There
  • Postcard

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Link will appear as Vatican City Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, March 20, 2020

Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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