Wikijunior:Popes of the Catholic Church/Vatican City

Flag of the Vatican City.
Map of the Vatican City.
The Swiss Guard wear blue and orange clothing.

The Vatican City is the smallest country in the world. Its size is 109 acres (about half a square kilometer). It is found inside Rome, which is the capital of Italy. The Vatican has the least people of any country — only about 800 people live there. The Vatican is ruled by the Pope and is also home to other religious people and the Swiss Guard police.

During the Middle Ages, the pope ruled over much of Italy in land called the Papal States. All of that land besides what became the Vatican City was lost by 1870. The Vatican City became its own country in 1929 through the Lateran Treaty it signed with Italy.

The Vatican contains many beautiful places. St. Peter's Square leads to the church of St. Peter's Basilica. Next to it is the Apostolic Palace, which has the Sistine Chapel and the Pope's home. Nearby are the Vatican Museums and Vatican Gardens.

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