“The Holy See 🇻🇦~The Vatican in Rome, Italy 🇮🇹”

• April 25, 2021
• By Pen
• 0 Comment

Did You Know?

If you have visited the Vatican City in Rome, you have, in fact, also visited the country of the “Holy See.”

Holy See

As an independent sovereign entity, holding the Vatican City enclave in Rome as an independent state, it maintains diplomatic relations with other states. It is viewed as analogous to a state while administered by the Roman Curia (Latin for Roman Court), similar to a centralised government with the Cardinal Secretary of State as its chief administrator, and various dicasteries, comparable to ministries and executive departments. Diplomatically, the Holy See acts and speaks for the whole church. It is also recognised by other subjects of international law as a sovereign entity, headed by the Pope, with which diplomatic relations can be maintained.
Although it is often informally referred to as “The Vatican,” the “Holy See” is not the same entity as “The Vatican City State,” which came into existence only in 1929, because of the Lateran Treaty, the Holy See; the episcopal See of Rome, dates back to antiquity.
Ambassadors are officially accredited, not to the Vatican City State but to the “Holy See,”and Papal representatives to states and international organizations are recognized as representing the Holy See, not the Vatican City State.
The creation of the Vatican City State was meant to ensure the diplomatic and spiritual independence of the Pope.


All in all we enjoyed self-touring behind the wall of the Holy See, inside the famous architecture, to the pristine grounds. We could have used another day to tour this spot, though. It’s huge!

The Holy See Wall

Saint Peter’s Basilica

Sistine Chapel

Vatican Museums

Click on the link below to see all the photos of inside the walls of the Holy See and Vatican City: 

https://picsbypen.smugmug.com/Places/EuropeanLife/Italy/Holy-See/Vatican-City/