Nombre del Pa�s:
conventional long form: The Holy See (State of the Vatican City)
conventional short form: Holy See (Vatican City)
local long form: Santa Sede (Stato della Citta del Vaticano)
local short form: Santa Sede (Citta del Vaticano)

C�digo: VT

Tipo de Gobierno: monarchical-sacerdotal state

Capital: Vatican City

Independencia: 11 February 1929 (from Italy)

Feriado Nacional: Installation Day of the Pope (John Paul II), 22 October (1978)

Constituci�n: Apostolic Constitution of 1967 (effective 1 March 1968)

Sistema Legal: NA

Sufragio: limited to cardinals less than 80 years old

Rama Ejecutiva:
chief of state: Pope JOHN PAUL II (since 16 October 1978)
head of government: Secretary of State Cardinal Angelo SODANO (since 2 December 1990)
cabinet: Pontifical Commission appointed by the pope
elections: pope elected for life by the College of Cardinals; election last held 16 October 1978 (next to be held after the death of the current pope); secretary of state appointed by the pope
election results: Karol WOJTYLA elected pope

Rama Legislativa: unicameral Pontifical Commission

Rama Judicial: none; normally handled by Italy

Partidos Pol�ticos y l�deres: none

Grupos de presi�n Pol�ticos y l�deres: none (exclusive of influence exercised by church officers)

Participaci�n de Organizaciones Internacionales: IAEA, ICFTU, Intelsat, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM (guest), OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, UN (observer), UNCTAD, UNHCR, UPU, WIPO, WToO (observer)

Representantes Diplom�ticos en EU:
chief of mission: Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Gabriele MONTALVO
chancery: 3339 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 333-7121

Representantes Dimplom�ticos de EU:
chief of mission: Ambassador Corrine C. BOGGS
embassy: Villa Domiziana, Via delle Terme Deciane 26, 00153 Rome
mailing address: PSC 59, Box F, APO AE 09624
telephone: [39] (06) 46741-3428
FAX: [39] (06) 5758346, 57300682

Descripci�n de la Bandera: two vertical bands of yellow (hoist side) and white with the crossed keys of Saint Peter and the papal miter centered in the white band