Vatican City has been a sovereign state since 1929

Italian disputes ended by Benito Mussolini

For a few weeks I have been describing the glorious history of the Holy See and its independent state, Vatican City, which is the smallest country in the world, covering just over 100 acres, encircled by a two-mile border with Italy.

The State of Vatican City is governed as an absolute monarchy with the Pope as its head. It may be infinitesimal compared to Canada, Russia, and China, but it still mints its own currency (once the lira; today euros), prints its own stamps, issues passports and licence plates, operates media outlets, and has its own flag and anthem.

It does not charge its citizens tax, although its museums do ask for entrance fees. There are no pubic restaurants or trattorias. The fast food chain, McDonald’s, has been trying hard to introduce an outlet in the Vatican Gardens, but there is great opposition.

In pagan times, a Roman necropolis stood on Vatican Hill. Was it really Emperor Nero who started the devastating fire in Rome in 64 AD? He accused the Christians of starting the blaze and executed them by burning them at the stake and crucifying them. Among the crucified was St. Peter, leader of the apostles and the first Bishop of Rome.

In the fourth century, when the Christian religion was officially recognized through the Edict of Milan, Emperor Constantine began the construction of the original basilica atop the ancient burial ground containing what was believed to be the tomb of St. Peter. The present basilica, built in the early 1500s, sits over a maze of catacombs.

For nearly 60 years, from 1870 till 1962, Popes refused to leave or be away from the Vatican. Historically, Popes ruled many sovereign Papal States throughout central Italy until the country was unified in 1870.

The new secular government seized all the land of the Papal States, with the exception of the small patch of the Vatican, and a cold war of sorts then broke out between the Church and the Italian government.

Popes refused to recognize the authority of the kingdom of Italy and the Vatican remained beyond Italian national control. Pope Pius IX proclaimed himself a “prisoner of the Vatican,” and for over half a century Popes refused to leave the Vatican and submit to Italian authority.

Benito Mussolini (whose father was anti-Catholic and gave him the name “Benito” after the Mexican dictator Benito Juarez, who confiscated the properties of Catholics in Mexico) ended the disputes between the Italian government and the Catholic Church in 1929 with the signing of the Lateran Pacts, which allowed the Vatican to exist as its own sovereign state.

He compensated the Church with $92 million (more than $1 billion in today’s money) for the Papal States, and, as head of the Italian government, signed the treaty on behalf of King Victor Emmanuel III.

Popes did not live at the Vatican until the 14th century. Even after the construction of the original St. Peter’s Basilica, Popes lived principally at the Lateran Palace in Rome, outside the Vatican.

They even left the city altogether in 1309 when the papal court moved to Avignon, France, after King Philip IV arranged for a French cardinal to be elected Pope.

Seven Popes, all French, ruled from Avignon, and the papacy did not return to Rome until 1377, by which time the Lateran Palace had burned and the Vatican started to be used as a papal residence.

Much repair work had to be done however, because the Vatican had fallen into such disrepair that wolves dug for bodies in the cemetery and cows even wandered the basilica.

The Swiss Guard, recognizable by their armour and colourful uniform designed by Michelangelo, have been protecting the Pontiff since 1506, when Pope Julius II, following in the footsteps of many European courts of the time, hired them as mercenary forces for his personal protection.

Their role is strictly to guard papal safety. Although this smallest army in the world appears to be strictly ceremonial, its members are trained soldiers and highly skilled marksmen.

Nevertheless, at several times, Popes have escaped through a secret passageway that was constructed in 1277 to link the Vatican with the fortified Castel Sant’Angelo on the banks of the Tiber River. Fully covered and half a kilometre long, it was used most notably in 1527, when it saved the life of Pope Clement VII during the sack of Rome.

The forces of Holy Roman Emperor Charles V rampaged through the city and murdered priests and nuns. One hundred forty-seven members of the Pope’s army lost their lives in the battle, but the Swiss Guards held the enemy long enough to allow Clement to safely reach Castel Sant’Angelo.