Popes in their secular role ruled portions of the Italian peninsula for more than a thousand years until the mid 19th century, when many of the Papal States were seized by the newly united Kingdom of Italy. In 1870, the pope's holdings were further circumscribed when Rome itself was annexed. Disputes between a series of "prisoner" popes and Italy were resolved in 1929 by three Lateran Treaties, which established the independent state of Vatican City and granted Roman Catholicism special status in Italy. In 1984, a concordat between the Holy See and Italy modified certain of the earlier treaty provisions, including the primacy of Roman Catholicism as the Italian state religion. Present concerns of the Holy See include religious freedom, international development, the environment, the Middle East, China, the decline of religion in Europe, terrorism, interreligious dialogue and reconciliation, and the application of church doctrine in an era of rapid change and globalization. About one billion people worldwide profess the Catholic faith.
Holy See (Vatican City), The Holy See (State of the Vatican City), Santa Sede (Stato della Citta del Vaticano), Santa Sede (Citta del Vaticano), vatican city, vatican, , Holy See, Holy See (Vatican City State), Vatican City (Holy See), Vatican City (The Holy See)
Hi Bryan -- The Vatican City's most famous landmarks are St Peter's Basilica with paintings by Michaelangelo, Bramante and Bernini, St Peter's Square with the obelisk from ancient Egypt, the Sistine Chapel in the Papal Palace, the Vatican museums and the library. For more, see: http://www.vatican.va/phome_en.htm.
Suchita Vemuri Staff Editor 4th March 2005
Hi Hakeem, Dontrel -- The Vatican City's literacy rate is 100%.
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