The Philippine Online Chronicles

The nearest most people can experience the grandeur of Vatican’s history, art and architecture is through movies like Angels and Demons.

The rich history of Vatican since the early centuries of its conceptualization will certainly leave anyone in awe especially if one sees the physical representation of one of the, if not, the most dominant religion in the world – Roman Catholicism.

The Vatican City State (VCS) is very young at 81, though, the historical establishment of the structure itself took centuries to build. It was founded after the signing of the Lateran Treaty between the Holy See and Italy on February 11, 1929 and ratified the same year on June 7. The Treaty declared the sovereignty of the State, however, distinct from the Holy See and universally recognized by international law.

The State of Vatican City is within the Italian city of Rome. The entire territory covers a maximum length of 1,045 meters and width of 850 meters. VCS is recognized as the smallest nation on Earth followed by Monaco, which is four times larger than VCS. It is at VCS where the highest official of the Roman Catholic religion resides, the Pope.

The central government of VCS is composed of the Pope and the departments, which assist him in carrying out his responsibilities as the head of the universal Church.

VCS serves as the instrument of the independence of the Holy See, and of the Catholic Church from any earthly power.

Geography

The VCS was built in what is believed to be almost the exact place where St. Peter, the first Pope and Jesus’ disciple, was martyred.

In 37-41 AD, the Roman Emperor Caligula built a private circus near the area and during the reign of Emperor Nero (54-68 AD). He used the circus including the adjoining gardens as a place for Christian persecutions, one of its victims was St. Peter.

St. Peter was buried just north of the circus, in a necropolis, which lay beside a secondary road. When the Roman Empire made peace with Christians, Emperor Constantine built a magnificent basilica over the burial site of St. Peter. The present Basilica in VCS replaced the Contantinian basilica between the 16^th and 17^th centuries.

VCS lies beyond the right bank of the Tiber River, part of the Vatican Hill (the ancient Montes Vaticani) where several villas were built during the pre-Christian times.

The State and the edge of the St. Peter’s Square is divided by a boundary of surrounding walls, which stretches as far as a strip of travertine stone, the furthest end of the colonnade. Though the Square is part of VCS, it is one of the very few places open to the public and therefore, patrolled by the members of the Italian Police Force.

There are five entrances leading to VCS. Each of these entrances is guarded by the Pontifical Swiss Guards and the Gendarmes Corps of VCS. For the Vatican Museums, the entrance is on Viale Vaticano, which is not far from Piazza del Risorgimento.

Since VCS is so small, the Departments and offices run by the Holy See are situated in nearby buildings in Rome such as: Via della Conciliazione, Piazza San Calisto, Piazza Pio XII, Piazza di Spagna, and in Piazza della Cancelleria. These buildings are of the same status as embassies and foreign diplomatic missions abroad as recognized by international law, according to the Lateran Treaty. Areas occupied by said buildings are considered as “extraterritorial”.

'Extraterritoriality'

To stress on the “extraterritoriality” nature of VCS means that it is of somewhat “supernatural” in character and its separated from any earthly power. However, aside from this, the sovereignty of VCS, like any other true nation also gives meaning to “extraterritoriality”.

As a sovereign nation, VCS receives international protection for its territory under the Hague Convention (14^th of May 1954). This Convention safeguards VCS’ cultural heritage sites when armed conflicts arise. The UNESCO Convention (16^th of November 1972) also guaranteed the protection of these sites. Internationally, VCS is recognized as a moral, artistic and cultural heritage site that is worth the respect and protection as a treasure, which belongs to the entire humankind.

The design of the VCS flag is divided into two halves. The first half is yellow, which flies alongside the flagpole while the other half is white, which bears the papal tiara and the symbol crossed keys.

As for VCS’s national anthem, Pope Pius XII chose Charles Gounod’s Pontifical March as the official hymn of the State on the 16^th of October 1949. At that time Charles Gounod was a well-known French composer but at the same time a devout Catholic. He was known for his lyrical work Faust and his Ave Maria composition. At present, the Pontifical Hymn is performed by a civilian band on the most solemn occasions especially those concerning the life of the City and including those times when the Holy Father or his representative is present.

History

Vatican City in the past

In ancient times, the marshy area on the right side bank of the Tiber River, between the Milvio Bridge and the Sixtus Bridge, was identified as Vatican or known as, the “Ager Vaticanus” during the time of the monarchy and the republican age. This marshy area extended northwards as far as the mouth of the Cremera while southwards as far as the Janiculum. In the 2^nd century A.D., or better known as the Imperial age, the toponym “Vaticanum” was already applied too an area corresponding roughly to the present VCS.

The area outside the city of Rome was recovered during the Roman period. Along the main roads, many structures were built such as the villas, Agrippina’s gardens, the house of Emperor Caligula’s (37-41 A.D.) mother and a vast necropolis. It was in the garden of Caligula’s mother did he build a small circus where the charioteers’ train, which was later, restored by Nero (54-68 A.D.) to be used for the persecution of Christians, St. Peter (64 A.D.) included.

The construction of what is presently known as VCS started when the Christian religion was officially recognized by Rome through the Edict of Milan in 313 A.D. at the time of Emperor Constantine. The early VCS started as a great church constructed around 324 A.D. The very core of the church was the tomb of St. Peter was originally placed. The constructed church had a nave and four aisles, a transept and an apse. A four-sided portico for the non-baptized and a stair completed the structure. The stones used to build the new church were originally from the structure of Nero’s circus. At that time, the church had rapidly become the newest attraction in Rome.

In the Middle Ages, the popes resided in the Lateran Palace. However, some buildings were built in the area near St. Peter’s. The first of these were constructed under the pontificates of Eugene III (1145-1153) and Innocent III (1198-1216). These structures were enlarged during the late 12^th to early 13^th century at the time of the Leonine Walls restoration. In the year 1309, the papal court was transferred to Avignon.

For over a century, Rome and St. Peter’s were abandoned. The popes came back to Rome in 1377. It took another fifty years more before the city regained its former grandeur.

The idea of rebuilding St. Peter surfaced in the mid-15^th century. Architect Bernardo Rossellino was asked by Pope Nicholas V (1447-1455) to draft plans for enlarging the Basilica and make it more prominent than that of the Constantinian one by adding on an apse. However, the project was dropped a few years later because the Turks started to advance and Constantinople fell.

Another structure was built between 1477 and 1480. Pope Sixtus IV (1471-1492) started the construction of a great chapel, which was named after him, “Sistina”. The chapel was decorated with frescoes painted by the popular painters of that time. It was inaugurated on the 15^th of August 1483. In the years 1503-1513, Julius II introduced some very radical changes in the small city. He began working on the new St. Peter’s and tore down the Constantinian basilica. He built the now famous Belvedere Courtyard. His intention was to actually connect the small Belvedere Palace (north of the courtyard), constructed by his predecessor Innocent VIII (1484-1492) to the cluster of medieval buildings in the south. Raphael and Michelangelo, the great artists of that time, were even summoned by Pope Julius to fresco the papal apartments including the Sistine Chapel. Construction work continued all throughout the century.

After overcoming some major difficulties, the Basilica of St. Peter was planned and built by Michelangelo in the mid-16^th century while a magnificent “vaulted” dome was constructed by Giacomo Della Porta to cover the area of the basilica. In the early 17^th century Maderno enlarged the church by adding two bays in the longitudinal section. Bernini was the one who completed the structure by designing the splendid square enclosing it by two hemicycles of four rows of columns. This design gave the square the baroque appearance today and connected this place of prayer to the rest of the city.

Vatican City today

VCS today is governed by an absolute monarchy. The Pope is the head of state and holds full legislative, executive and judicial authority.

In case a new Pope needs to be elected or at the time of the “sede vacante” (the period between the death of a Pope and the election of his successor), the authority resides on a College of Cardinals.

The Pope is voted on by Cardinals who are under eighty years of age. He becomes the Sovereign of VCS once he accepted his election as Pope.

For judicial bodies, a legislation enacted on the 21^st of November 1987, gives the judicial powers to the Judge, a Tribunal, an Appeals Court and a Supreme Court. All these bodies exercise their power in the name of the Pope.

There are specific responsibilities, which were established by the codes of penal and civil procedures currently enforced in VCS.

As for the Legislative Acts, these are carried out by the Pope and in his name, by the Pontifical Commission for VCS. It also publicizes general instructions and regulations through a special supplement in the official bulletin of the Holy See, the Acta Apostolicae Sedis.

For the executive government, the work is entrusted to the Cardinal President of the Pontifical Commission for VCS, who assumes the title of President of the Governorate. His closest collaborators are the Secretary General and the Deputy Secretary General. If in case the President and the Pontifical Commission need help in writing legislation and in dealing with important issues, they can always seek the help of the General Councilor and of the State Council.

Officials in Power at VCS today

Today, the Sovereign of VCS and the Supreme Pontiff of the entire Roman Catholic Church is Pope Benedict XVI Joseph Ratzinger. He was born in Marktl am Inn in the Diocese of Passau in Germany on the 16^th of April 1927. He was ordained in priesthood on the 29^th of June 1951. He was appointed as Archbishop of München and Freising on the 25^th of March 1977 and ordained on the 28^th of May 1977. He was created a Cardinal in the Consistory on the 27^th of June 1977. After the death of Pope John Paul II Karol Wojtyla, he was elected as Pope on the 19^th of April 2005 and inaugurated in his pastoral ministry as Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church on the 24^th of April 2005.

The VCS is an internationally recognized state and therefore, maintains diplomatic relations with foreign states and is a member of several international organizations. It takes part as well in international conferences and a signatory to several conventions and international agreements. One notable participation of VCS is the Holy See’s Permanent Observer Status in the following: United Nations (UN), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and in the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). VCS is a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) among others. Some of the Conventions where the VCS is a signatory are the: International Convention on the rights of the child, the Convention on drugs and the amendment Protocol, the Protocol regarding the ban on toxic gas and bacteriological agents and the Geneva Convention (guaranteeing protection to the wounded, the sick and civilians in wartime, regarding the treatment of prisoners, and the status of refugees) as well as additional protocols.

Interesting places at VCS for tourists

Free access to VCS is limited to certain areas. This includes the 19 Vatican museums, Vatican Gardens, St. Peter’s Church and St. Peter’s Square. For visits to other areas within VCS, special permission is required.

Apart from pilgrims and tourists, VCS is frequented by students of architecture because of the grandiose architectural designs made by world re-known artists of the earlier centuries. One of which is the magnificent St. Peter’s Basilica. Around 800 to 1,700 visitors are admitted to the dome daily.

Another amazing architecture inside VCS is the 17th-century St. Peter’s Square created by the world class architect Bernini. Students and professionals working in the field of archeology may also find Necropoli Precostantiniana interesting for their archeological involvement. These are the excavations happening under St. Peter’s. Permissions are only granted to those with professional interest in the work being carried out.

Vatican Gardens are also interesting for tourists. They can be visited through guided or bus tours. Tickets for these tours are available at the tourist information office in St. Peter’s Square and tourists are advised to avail of the tickets at least two days in advance.

It would be interesting to see the Vatican Palace, where the Pope resides. Among its principal features are the following: the Sistine Chapel, the Stanze, the Vatican Library, the Vatican collections (where major works of art and valuable pictures are archived) and the Garden House of Belvedere. The Museum and Treasure House are best for history lovers, which includes some of the very interesting museums such as the: Museo Pio-Clementino, Egyptian Museum, Museum of Modern Religious Art and the Collection of Antiquities.

Monuments within the walls of VCS are a constant attraction to tourists and lovers of architecture and the arts. Some of the most famous are the: St. Peter’s Basilica, the Dome and Facade, Vatican Grottos, St. Peter’s Treasury, Pre-Constantinian Necropolis, St. Peter’s Square and Fabbrica de San Pietro.

The one of the most frequented by pilgrims is St. Peter’s Basilica. Twenty thousand people can fit inside the basilica with 190 meters long, the aisles are 58 meters wide, the nave is 45.50 meters as high, as far as the vault. The dome is about 136 meters as high as far as the cross. The interiors of the basilica are characterized by huge mosaics and house the most famous art works from all over the world. Example of which is Bernini’s baldachin and Michelangelo’s Pièta.

Aside from the monuments, the VCS walls house 19 magnificent museums. To enumerate a few, VCS has the Sistine Chapel, the Vatican Courtyards and Raphael’s Rooms.

The VCS is adorned by its majestic gardens, two of which are called L’ Eliporto and Castel Gandolfo respectively.