| For a majority of Catholics living across the world | | | | called an absolute theocratic monarchy with him at the |
| there is one destination that they would love to visit | | | | head of the Holy See. |
| sometime in their lives. It is the Vatican City. A far off | | | | The political system is set up much like any other |
| destination in Rome, Italy this country within a city is a | | | | nations with a legislative, judicial and executive branch. |
| plethora of fantastic pieces of art work spanning the | | | | The difference is that the Pope is the one to appoint all |
| centuries. It is the location of the Pope and mass is | | | | of the offices. |
| attended there by the thousands each day. | | | | The legislative branch is in the hands of the Pontifical |
| The Vatican City is fascinating and will definitely | | | | Commission for the Vatican City State which is made |
| always be one of the most popular destinations but | | | | up of cardinals. Executive power is given to the |
| few know of its intricate history and its political | | | | President of the Commission and the foreign relations |
| structure. The smallest country in the world, the | | | | are given to the Secretariat of State. |
| Vatican City is home to many interesting subjects. | | | | Who guards the Vatican City? |
| This article will cover some of the basics of this | | | | The Vatican City is policed by the Pontifical Swiss |
| fascinating city as well as its infrastructure. Maybe | | | | Guard. You may be surprised to learn that prior to |
| before it is all over you will find yourself booking a trip | | | | January 1506 the Pope and the Holy See once used |
| to Rome. | | | | Swiss mercenaries. Today the Guard continues to |
| What is the history of the Vatican City? | | | | oversee the policing actions of the Pope and his |
| The Vatican City has a long and rich history. It all | | | | cabinet. They accompany him everywhere with their |
| started back before there was a Vatican City and the | | | | brightly colored uniforms. |
| area was just a special part of Italy. It is said that the | | | | It may be interesting to learn that only Catholic Swiss |
| spire in the center of the circus was the site of the | | | | males are allowed into the Pontifical Swiss Guard. The |
| death of St. Peter. All around the circus are | | | | policing force of the actual city, versus that of guarding |
| monuments to various saints and buildings that house | | | | the palace and the Pope is left in the hands of the |
| the papal authorities. | | | | Corpo della Gendarmeria. |
| The area dates back to 1st century AD and has since | | | | How many people visit the Vatican City annually? |
| become a holy place thanks to the Catholic Church | | | | There are millions and millions of people that visit the |
| refusing to remove its presence. It remained a place of | | | | Vatican City annually to partake in Mass or to visit any |
| sanctuary though it was not officially recognized as its | | | | one of the numerous museums and buildings. More |
| own governing body until a treaty was signed by | | | | remarkable than the amount of visitors is the amount |
| Benito Mussolini and Pietro Cardinal Gasparri in | | | | of residents that live within the Vatican City. |
| February of 1929. | | | | The population of the Vatican City is only 558. The |
| What is the political system for the Vatican City? | | | | requirements to live within the city are that you must |
| The political system, or Holy See, of the Vatican City is | | | | work there or be an immediate family member of |
| very unique in nature to today's politics. The Pope is | | | | someone that works within the papal state. |
| the last absolute monarch left in the world. This is | | | | |