Legal status of the Holy See

Legal status of the Catholic Church in its international relations

This article is part of a series on
Vatican City

History

* Duchy of Rome (554–751)
* Donation of Pepin (750s)
* Papal States (754–1870)
* Annates
* Congregation for Borders
* Fundamental Statute for the Secular Government of the States of the Church
* Capture of Rome (1870)
* "Prisoner in the Vatican" (1870–1929)
* Roman Question
* Law of Guarantees
* Lateran Treaty (1929)
* Vatican City (1929–present)
* Governorate of Vatican City State
* 2010 Vatican employee sex scandal
* History of the Catholic Church since 1962
* History of the Papacy
* Roman Historical Institutes
* Savoyard Era
* Vatileaks scandal
* Vatican Historical Museum
* Vatican City during World War II

Law

* Acta Apostolicae Sedis
* Fundamental Law of Vatican City State
* Capital punishment in Vatican City
* Crime in Vatican City
* Lateran Treaty
* Legal status of the Holy See
* (Alperin v. Vatican Bank)
* (Doe v. Holy See)
* Temporal power of the Holy See
* Tribunal of Vatican City State
* Canon law

1983 Code of Canon Law
Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches
Apostolic Constitution Pastor Bonus
* LGBTQ rights in Vatican City

Politics and government

* Archives
* Association of Vatican Lay Workers
* Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State
* President
* President: Giuseppe Bertello

* Pontifical Commission
* Secretariat for Communications
* Holy See Press Office
* L'Osservatore Romano (Vatican City newspaper)
* L'Osservatore della Domenica
* List of newspapers in Vatican City
* Vatican Radio lawsuit
* Vatican Information Service
* .va (Vatican City internet sites)
* Vatican Publishing House
* Vatican Radio
* Vatican Television Center
* Secretariat of State
* Secretary: Pietro Parolin

* Fabric of Saint Peter
* Foreign relations of the Holy See
* Papal apocrisiarius
* Governorate of Vatican City State
* Governor of Vatican City
* College of Cardinals
* Camerlengo (Chamberlain)
* Dean
* Vical General
* Court of Cassation

President: Dominique Mamberti

* Court of Appeals

President: Pio Vito Pinto

* Tribunale

President: G. di Sanguinetto

* Military in Vatican City
* Swiss Guard
* Corps of Gendarmerie of Vatican City
* Corps of Firefighters of the Vatican City State

Papacy

* Pope
* Popemobile
* Catholic Church
* Latin Church
* Holy See
* Diocese of Rome
* Roman Curia
* Universi Dominici Gregis
* Papal conclave (Papal elections)
* Universi Dominici gregis
* Recent conclaves

* 1978 (Oct)
* 2005
* 2013

* Papal household
* Papal Gentleman
* Prefecture of the Pontifical Household

Foreign relations

* Section for Relations with States
* Concordats
* Multilateral foreign policy
* Status in international law
* Lateran Treaty
* Section for Relations with States (Roman Curia)

Secretary for Relations with States: Paul Gallagher
Undersecretaries for Relations with States: Antoine Camilleri

* * *

* List of diplomatic missions of the Holy See
* Nuncios

* * *

* Vatican City and Holy See passports
* Visa requirements
* Visa policy

* * *

* The Holy See and the United Nations
* Holy See–Italy relations
* Holy See–United States relations
* Holy See–Israel relations
* Holy See–Palestine relations

Economy

* Institute for the Works of Religion
* Telephone numbers in Vatican City
* Tourism in Vatican City
* Transport in Vatican City
* Rail transport in Vatican City
* Secretariat for the Economy
* Financial Information Authority
* Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See
* Prefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See
* Vatican euro coins
* Vatican lira
* Properties of the Holy See

Symbols

* Flag
* List of Papal flags
* Anthem
* Coat of arms of Vatican City
* 00120 (Vatican postcode)
* Papal tiara
* Papal coronation

Culture

* Vatican Museums
* Vatican Library
* Music of Vatican City
* Sistine Chapel Choir
* Languages of Vatican City
* Women in Vatican City
* Vatican Christmas Tree
* Sport in Vatican City
* Papal Concert to Commemorate the Shoah
* Postage stamps and postal history of Vatican City
* Public holidays in Vatican City
* Pontifical Academy of Sciences
* Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences
* The Story of the Vatican, 1941 documentary

Buildings/geography

* Apostolic nunciature
* Apostolic Palace
* Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore
* Borgia Apartments
* Bramante Staircase
* Domus Sanctae Marthae
* Fountains of St. Peter's Square
* Gardens of Vatican City
* Geography of Vatican City
* Gregorian Tower
* Mater Ecclesiae (monastery)
* Monument to the Royal Stuarts
* Palace of the Holy Office
* Palazzi Pontifici
* Papal Apartments
* Saint Peter's Basilica
* Saint Peter's Square
* Saint Peter's tomb
* Lateran Basilica
* Lateran Palace
* Leonine City
* Niccoline Chapel
* Old St. Peter's Basilica
* Papal tombs
* Papal tombs in Old St. Peter's Basilica
* Paul VI Audience Hall
* Tomb of the Julii
* Torre San Giovanni
* Scala Regia
* Via della Conciliazione
* Vatican Climate Forest
* Vatican Heliport
* Vatican Hill
* Vatican Necropolis
* Papal Concert to Commemorate the Shoah
* Postage stamps and postal history of Vatican City
* Public holidays in Vatican City
* Vatican Secret Archives
* St. Peter's Baldachin
* Sala Regia
* San Pellegrino in Vaticano
* Sant'Anna dei Palafrenieri
* Santa Maria della Pietà in Camposanto dei Teutonici
* Vatican Advanced Technology Telescope
* Vatican Observatory
* Vatican Pharmacy
* Bibliotheca Palatina
* Cappella Giulia
* Cappella Paolina
* Cardinal Secretary of State
* Casina Pio IV
* Circus of Nero
* Redemptoris Mater Chapel
* Saints Martin and Sebastian of the Swiss
* Santo Stefano degli Abissini
* Santo Stefano degli Ungheresi
* Teutonic Cemetery
* Cortile del Belvedere
* Passetto di Borgo
* Porta San Pellegrino

Vatican Museums

* Vatican Museums
* Vatican Gallery of Maps
* Gallery of Sistine Chapel ceiling
* Collection of Modern Religious Art
* Raphael Rooms
* Redemptoris Mater Chapel
* Restoration of the Sistine Chapel frescoes
* Sistine Chapel
* Sistine Chapel ceiling
* The Last Judgment by Michelangelo

* Outline
* Index
* Vatican City portal
* Catholicism portal

* v
* t
* e

The legal status of the Holy See, the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, both in state practice and according to the writing of modern legal scholars, is that of a full subject of public international law, with rights and duties analogous to those of states.

## A sui generis entity possessing international personality

[edit]

Although the Holy See, as distinct from the Vatican City State, does not fulfill the long-established criteria in international law of statehood; i.e. having a permanent population, a defined territory, a stable government and the capacity to enter into relations with other states;[1] its possession of full legal personality in international law is evidenced by its diplomatic relations with 180 states, that it is a member-state in various intergovernmental international organizations, and that it is: "respected by the international community of sovereign States and treated as a subject of international law having the capacity to engage in diplomatic relations and to enter into binding agreements with one, several, or many states under international law that are largely geared to establish and preserving peace in the world."[2] As Graham notes:

> The fact that the Holy See is a non-territorial institution is no longer regarded as a reason for denying it international personality. The papacy can act in its own name in the international community. It can enter into legally binding conventions known as concordats. In the world of diplomacy the Pope enjoys the rights of active and passive legation. (...) Furthermore, this personality of the Holy See is distinct from the personality of the State of Vatican City. One is a non-territorial institution and the other a state. The papacy as a religious organ is a subject of international law and capable of international rights and duties.[3]

This peculiar character of the Holy See in international law, as a non-territorial entity with a legal personality akin to that of states, has led Prof. Ian Brownlie to define it as a "sui generis entity".[4] Prof. Maurice Mendelson (then lecturer) argued that "[i]n two respects it may be doubted whether the territorial entity, the Vatican City, meets the traditional criteria of statehood" and that "[t]he special status of the Vatican City is probably best regarded as a means of ensuring that the Pope can freely exercise his spiritual functions, and in this respect is loosely analogous to that of the headquarters of international organisations."[5][clarification needed]

## Self-perception of the Holy See

[edit]

Moreover, the Holy See itself, while claiming international legal personality, does not claim to be a State. Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, former Secretary for Relations with States of the Secretariat of State of the Holy See, has underlined the need to avoid assimilating the Holy See and its international action with that of a State, with their thirst for power. According to Tauran, the Holy See is unquestionably a sovereign subject of international law but of a predominantly religious nature.[6]

## The legal basis of the Holy See's international personality

[edit]

See also: Lateran Treaty

For some experts, the current legal personality of the Holy See is a remnant of its preeminent role in medieval politics. Thus Arangio-Ruiz noted that the Holy See has been an actor in the evolution of international law since before the creation of strong nation states, and that it has maintained international personality since.[7]

For others, the international personality of the Holy See arises solely from its recognition by other states. In this sense, Brownlie argues that the personality of the Holy See “as a religious organ apart from its territorial base in the Vatican City” arises from the "principle of effectiveness", that is, from the fact that other states voluntarily recognize the Holy See, acquiesce having bilateral relations with it, and in fact do so, in a situation where no rule of ius cogens is breached. For him, though, the international personality thus conferred is effective only towards those states prepared to enter into diplomatic relations with it.[8] Crawford similarly believes that the recognition of a number of states is important evidence to acknowledge the legal personality of the Holy See, so that, today, it cannot be denied.[9]

For a third group of authors, the international legal personality of the Holy See is based mostly, but not only, on its unique spiritual role. Araujo notes, for instance, that "it is generally understood that the Holy See’s international personality emerges from its religious, moral and spiritual authority and mission in the world as opposed to a claim over purely temporal matters. This is an incomplete understanding, however, of the grounds on which its claim as a subject of international law can be justified", since, in his view, the Holy See's claim to international personality can also be justified by the fact that it is recognized by other states as a full subject of international law.[10] The Lateran Treaty itself seems to support this view. In article 2, Italy recognized "the sovereignty of the Holy See in the international domain as an attribute inherent in its nature, in accordance with its tradition and with the requirements of its mission in the world."

For a further group, the legal personality of the Holy See in international law arises from the Lateran Treaty, which, in their view, conferred international standing to the central government of the Catholic Church. In this sense, Oppenheim argued that "the previously controversial international position of the Holy See was clarified as the result of the Treaty of 11 February 1929, between the Holy See and Italy - the so called Lateran Treaty. (...) The Lateran Treaty marks the resumption of the formal membership, interrupted in 1871, of the Holy See in the society of states."[11]

Oppenheim goes further and denies a separate legal personality for the Vatican City State. For him, the composite of the Holy See plus the Vatican City constitutes just one international person; see p. 328:

> The strict view ought probably to be that the Lateran Treaty created a new international state of the Vatican City, with the incumbent of the Holy See as its Head; but the practice of states does not always sharply distinguishes between the two elements in that way. Nevertheless it is accepted that in one form or the other there exists a state possessing the formal requirements of statehood and constituting an international person recognized as such by other states.

Kunz sharply criticized this view. For him:

> The Lateran Treaty had the object of liquidating once for all the 'Roman Question' and bringing about a reconciliation between the Holy See and Italy, but in no way created or changed the international position of the Holy See. (It is therefore not correct, as Oppenheim (...) states that "the hitherto controversial international position of the Holy See was clarified as a result of the Treaty.") The treaty concluded between the Holy See and Italy pre-supposes the international personality of the Holy See.[12]

## Status between 1870 and 1929

[edit]

Main articles: Roman Question, Law of Guarantees, and Prisoner in the Vatican

A separate question is whether the Holy See was a subject of international law between 1870, when the Kingdom of Italy annexed the Papal States, and 1929, when the Lateran Treaties were signed. The United States, for instance, suspended diplomatic relations with the Holy See when it lost the Papal States.[13] Similarly, Oppenheim believed that the legal personality of the Papal States became extinct in 1870. For him, between 1870 and 1929, the "Holy See was not an international person," although "it had by custom and tacit consent of most states acquired a quasi-international position".[14] The United Nations International Law Commission noted, nonetheless, that:

> It has always been a principle of international law that entities other than States might possess international personality and treaty-making capacity. An example is afforded by the Papacy particularly in the period immediately preceding the Lateran Treaty of 1929, when the Papacy exercised no territorial sovereignty. The Holy See was nevertheless regarded as possessing international treaty-making capacity. Even now, although there is a Vatican State (...) treaties are entered into not by reason of territorial sovereignty over the Vatican State, but on behalf of the Holy See, which exists separately from that State.[15]

Similarly, Kunz argued that:

> Prior to 1870, there were two subjects of international law: the Papal State and the Holy See. (...) Of these two persons in international law the one, the Papal State, undoubtedly came to an end, under the rules of general international law, by the Italian conquest and subjugation in 1870. But the Holy See remained, as always, a subject of general international law also in the period between 1870 and 1929. That this is so, is fully proved by the practice of states. The Holy See continued to conclude concordats and continued, with the consent of a majority of states, to exercise the active and passive right of legation. The legal position of its diplomatic agents (...) remained based on general international law, not on the Italian Law of Guarantee, a municipal law.[16]

## Opposition to the Holy See's participation in multilateral forums

[edit]

Since 1995, the non-governmental organization Catholics for Choice has advocated against the participation of the Holy See in multilateral forums.[17] It argues that the Holy See is a religious organization and not a state, and that, therefore, it should have neither a special status in international law nor the right to participate, in a position analogous to that of states, in the international conferences on social, cultural and economic matters.[18] No State has supported this initiative. On the contrary, the United Nations General Assembly confirmed and raised further the status of the Holy See as an observer within the UN, through its Resolution 58/314 of 16 July 2004.[19]

## See also

[edit]

* Holy See and the United Nations
* Foreign relations of the Holy See
* Multilateral foreign policy of the Holy See
* Index of Vatican City-related articles

## Bibliography

[edit]

* Abdullah, Yasmin, “Note, The Holy See at United Nations Conferences: State or Church?” 96 Columbia Law Review 1835 (1996)
* Acquaviva, Guido, “Subjects of International Law: A Power-Based Analysis,” 38 Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law (2005)
* Arangio-Ruiz, Gaetano, “On the Nature of the International Personality of the Holy See,” 29 Revue Belge de Droit International (1996)
* Araujo, Robert and Lucal, John, Papal Diplomacy and the Quest for Peace, the Vatican and International Organizations from the early years to the League of Nations, Sapienza Press (2004)
* Araujo, Robert John, “The International Personality and Sovereignty of the Holy See,” 50 Catholic University Law Review 291 (2001)
* Bathon, Matthew N., Note, “The Atypical Status of the Holy See” 34 Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law 597 (2001)
* Ciprotti, Pio, “The Holy See: Its Function, Form, and Status in International Law,” 8 Concilium 63 (1970)
* Crawford, James, The Creation of States in International Law, Oxford, (1979)
* Cumbo, Horace F., “The Holy See and International Law,” 2 International Law Quarterly 603 (1949)
* Dias, Noel, “Roman Catholic Church and International Law,” 13 Sri Lanka Law Journal 107 (2001)
* Graham, Robert, Vatican Diplomacy: A Study of Church and State on the International Plane (1959)
* Ireland, Gordon, “The State of the City of the Vatican,” 27 American Journal of International Law 271 (1933).
* Kunz, Josef L., “The Status of the Holy See in International Law,” 46 American Journal of International Law 308 (1952)
* Martens, Kurt, “The Position of the Holy See and Vatican City State in International Relations,” 83 University of Detroit Mercy Law Review 729 (2006)
* Morss, John R. (2015). "The International Legal Status of the Vatican/Holy See Complex". European Journal of International Law. 26 (4): 927. doi:10.1093/ejil/chv062. hdl:10536/DRO/DU:30081648.
* Shine, Cormac (2018). "Papal Diplomacy by Proxy? Catholic Internationalism at the League of Nations' International Committee on Intellectual Cooperation". The Journal of Ecclesiastical History. 69 (4): 785–805. doi:10.1017/S0022046917002731.
* Wright, Herbert, “The Status of the Vatican City,” 38 American Journal of International Law 452 (1944)

## References

[edit]

1. ^ The criteria for statehood were first authoritatively enunciated at the Montevideo Convention on Rights and Duties of States, signed on 26 December 1933.
2. ^ Robert Araujo and John Lucal, Papal Diplomacy and the Quest for Peace, the Vatican and International Organizations from the early years to the League of Nations, Sapienza Press (2004), ISBN 1-932589-01-5, p. 16. See also James Crawford, The Creation of States in International Law, (1979) p. 154.
3. ^ Robert Graham, Vatican Diplomacy, A Study of Church and State on the International Plane (1959) pp. 186, 201
4. ^ Ian Brownlie, Principles of Public International Law, 4th ed. ISBN 0-19-825639-6 (1990) p. 65.
5. ^ Mendelson, M. H. (1972). "Diminutive States in the United Nations". The International and Comparative Law Quarterly, 21(4), pp.609–630.
6. ^ Jean Louis Tauran, "Etica e ordine mondiale: l’apporto specific della Santa Sede", in Giulio Cipollone, La Chiesa e l’ordine internationale, Roma: Gangemi Editore (2004) p. 184. (Italian)
7. ^ Gaetano Arangio-Ruiz, Revue Belge de Droit International, 29 (1996) 354.
8. ^ Ian Brownlie, Principles of Public International Law, 4th ed. ISBN 0-19-825639-6 (1990) p. 65
9. ^ See James Crawford, pp. 158-9.
10. ^ Robert Araujo and John Lucal, Papal Diplomacy and the Quest for Peace, the Vatican and International Organizations from the early years to the League of Nations, Sapienza Press (2004), ISBN 1-932589-01-5, pp. 4-5.
11. ^ Robert Yewdall Jennings and Arthur Watts, Oppenheim's International Law, v.1 Peace, 9th ed., (1992) ISBN 978-0-582-50108-9, pp. 324-325.
12. ^ Kunz, "The Status of the Holy See in International Law" 46 American Journal of International Law (1952) pp. 309-313
13. ^ Robert Araujo and John Lucal, Papal Diplomacy and the Quest for Peace, the Vatican and International Organizations from the early years to the League of Nations, Sapienza Press (2004), ISBN 1-932589-01-5, p. 7.
14. ^ Robert Jennings and Arthur Watts, Oppenheim's International Law, v.1 Peace, 9th ed., (1992) ISBN 978-0-582-50108-9, p. 326.
15. ^ United Nations International Law Commission, Commentary to Article 2 of the Vienna Convention on Treaties, 2 ILC Yearbook, p. 96, quoted in: Robert Araujo and John Lucal, Papal Diplomacy and the Quest for Peace, the Vatican and International Organizations from the early years to the League of Nations, Sapienza Press (2004), ISBN 1-932589-01-5, p. 7.
16. ^ Kunz, "The Status of the Holy See in International Law" 46 American Journal of International Law (1952) pp. 309-313. Crawford, p. 157, noted that: "Though some writers denied that the Holy See had any international standing at all after 1870, the true position is that it retained after the annexation of the Papal States what it always had, a degree of international personality, measured by the extent of its existing legal rights and duties, together with its capacity to conclude treaties and to receive and accredit envoys."
17. ^ See Change, Why is this campaign important?
18. ^ Seechange, The Catholic Church at the United Nations, Church or State? Archived 2008-11-27 at the Wayback Machine
19. ^ Sandro Magister (2007-08-21). "Mission Impossible: Eject the Holy See from the United Nations". www.chiesa:News, analysis, and documents on the Catholic Church. Retrieved 2007-10-03.

## External links

[edit]

* Melanie Black, The Unusual Sovereign State: The Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act and Litigation Against the Holy See for Its Role in the Global Priest Sexual Abuse Scandal, Wisconsin International Law Journal, Volume 27
* O'Bryan v. Holy See (6th Cir., Sept. 17, 2007)

* v
* t
* e

Foreign relations of the Holy See

Africa|

* Algeria
* Central African Republic
* Democratic Republic of the Congo
* Republic of the Congo
* Ivory Coast
* Mauritius

Americas|

* Argentina
* Brazil
* Canada
* Chile
* Cuba
* Mexico
* Nicaragua
* Peru
* United States
* Uruguay
* Venezuela

Asia|

* Bangladesh
* China
* Georgia
* India
* Indonesia
* Iran
* Israel
* Japan
* Jordan
* Kurdistan Region
* Lebanon
* Malaysia
* Myanmar
* Nepal
* Pakistan
* Palestine
* Philippines
* Saudi Arabia
* South Korea
* Sri Lanka
* Syria
* Taiwan
* Turkey
* United Arab Emirates
* Vietnam

Europe|

* Albania
* Bosnia and Herzegovina
* Bulgaria
* Croatia
* France
* Germany
* Greece
* Ireland
* Italy
* North Macedonia
* Monaco
* Poland
* Romania
* Russia
* Serbia
* Spain
* Switzerland
* United Kingdom

Oceania|

* Papua New Guinea

Former|

* Soviet Union
* Yugoslavia

Multilateral relations|

* African Union
* ASEAN
* Arab League
* Council of Europe
* European Union
* Organization of American States
* United Nations
* Observer to the UN
* Observer to the UN in Geneva

Related topics|

* Apostolic nunciature
* Cardinal Secretary of State
* Concordats
* Diplomatic missions: of the Holy See/to the Holy See
* Heads of the diplomatic missions of the Holy See
* Legal status of the Holy See
* Multilateral foreign policy of the Holy See
* Secretariat of State
* Section for Relations with States (Roman Curia)

* v
* t
* e

Holy See

* Apostolic episcopal see of Pope Francis as bishop of the Diocese of Rome
* Sovereignty and government of Vatican City
* Sovereign judicial entity under international law

History|

* Apostolic see
* Primacy of Peter
* History of papal primacy
* Patrimony of Saint Peter
* Old St. Peter's Basilica
* Lateran Palace
* Museum
* Duchy of Rome
* Donation of Sutri
* Donation of Pepin
* Avignon Papacy
* Papal States
* Temporal power
* Investiture Controversy
* Age of Revolution
* "Prisoner in the Vatican"
* Savoyard era
* Vatican City
* Lateran Treaty
* World War II
* Warsaw Pact

Sovereign
judicial entity
under
international
law
(Legal status)|

| Officials|

* Pope Francis
* Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin
* Cardinals
* List
* Advisers

|

Governance|

* Secretariat of State
* College of Cardinals
* Papal conclave

Government|

* Roman Curia
* Apostolic Camera
* Commissions
* For Vatican City State
* Councils
* Congregations
* Dicasteries

Foreign affairs
(Multilateral policy)|

* Section for Relations with States
* To the Holy See
* Of the Holy See
* Heads
* Italy
* United Nations
* Permanent Observer
* in Geneva
* European Union
* Permanent Observer to the Council of Europe
* Apostolic nunciature
* Nuncio
* Treaties
* Concordats

Diocese
of Rome
with universal
full communion
(Papal primacy)|

| Synods|

* Ordinary general assemblies
* Extraordinary general assemblies
* Special assemblies

|

Ecclesiastical
province of Rome
(Vicariate: Rome,
Vatican City)|

| Suburbicarian sees|

* Ostia
* Velletri-Segni
* Porto-Santa Rufina
* Frascati
* Palestrina
* Albano
* Sabina-Poggio Mirteto

|

Territorial abbeys|

* Montecassino
* Subiaco

Suffragan dioceses|

* Gaeta
* Anagni-Alatri
* Civita Castellana
* Civitavecchia-Tarquinia
* Frosinone-Veroli-Ferentino
* Latina-Terracina-Sezze-Priverno
* Rieti
* Sora-Cassino-Aquino-Pontecorvo
* Tivoli
* Viterbo

Properties
including
extra-
territoriality|

| Inside
Rome|

Major basilicas|

* St. Peter's Basilica
* Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran
* Basilica of Saint Mary Major
* Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls

|

* Lateran Palace
* Lateran University
* Scala Sancta
* Sancta Sanctorum
* Adjoining buildings
* Palace of Saint Callixtus
* Gianicolo Hill area
* Pontifical Urban University
* Pontifical North American College
* Bambino Gesù Hospital
* Palazzo della Cancelleria
* Palace of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples
* Palace of the Holy Office
* Palace of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches
* Palazzo Pio
* Palace of the Vicariate
* Pontifical Minor Roman Seminary
* Collegio Teutonico
* Teutonic Cemetery
* Benedictine monastery
* Pontifical Oratory of San Paolo
* Beda College
* Paul VI Audience Hall

Non-
extraterritorial|

* Palace of the Holy Apostles
* Palace of San Carlo ai Catinari
* Collegio Bellarmino
* Archaeological Institute
* Pontifical Oriental Institute
* Pontifical Lombard Seminary
* Russian College
* Two Palaces of Sant'Apollinare
* House of Retreat for the Clergy of Saints John and Paul
* Nympheum of Nero

|

Outside
Rome|

* Papal Palace of Castel Gandolfo
* Papal farm
* Gardens of the Villa Cybo
* Villa Barberini
* Adjacent gardens
* Summer estate of Pontificio Collegio Urbano de Propaganda Fide
* Vatican Radio antennae area of Santa Maria di Galeria

| Non-
extraterritorial|

* Basilica of the Holy House
* Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi
* Basilica of Saint Anthony of Padua

|

See also|

* Acta Apostolicae Sedis
* Awards
* Papal household
* Peter's Pence
* Roman Rota
* Apostolic Penitentiary
* Apostolic Signatura
* Swiss Guard

* Vatican City portal
* Catholicism portal

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template