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, threats against minority Christian communities in Africa and the Middle East, sexual misconduct by clergy, international development, interreligious dialogue and reconciliation, and the application of church doctrine in an era of rapid change and globalization. About 1.2 billion people worldwide profess Catholicism – the world’s largest Christian faith.
Holy See Tourism Information
Web Sites
The Best of the Holy See
Here is a break down of some of the most interesting and visited places. Cities or areas listed will always have more than just one thing see and do. With the popular cities or areas we list some of the best known, which should go on everyone’s, must see list when they visit.
The Regions of the Holy See…
Vatican City
- Cities:
- Vatican City
- Others Sights & Attractions:
- Raphael’s Papal Apartments
- St. Peter’s Basilica
- St. Peter’s Square
- The Obelisk
- Sistine Chapel
- Vatican Museums
| Piazza San Pietro Saint Peter’s Basilica Sistine Chapel Vatican Museum |