Vatican City
2026
- GOVERNMENT
- elective ecclesiastical monarchy; self-defined as an "absolute monarchy"
- CONSTITUTION
- February 22, 2001 (Fundamental Law of the Vatican City State, main regulatory act of Vatican civil entities); in June 2018, Pope Francis approved the first draft of the Council of Cardinals for the new apostolic constitution, Predicato Evangelium (Preaching the Gospel); it came into effect on June 5, 2022, replacing Pastor Bonus, the previous governing document of the Roman Curia
- LEGAL SYSTEM
- religious legal system based on canon law (religious); it has not submitted to the jurisdiction of the ICJ
- LEGISLATIVE SYSTEM
- unicameral, Pontifical Commission for the Vatican City State
- JUDICIAL SYSTEM
- Supreme Court or Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura (composed of the cardinal prefect, who serves as the ex officio president of the tribunal, and 2 other cardinals from the Prefectural Signatura); Court of Appeal of the Vatican City; Tribunal of the Vatican City
RELIGIONS
Roman Catholic
From the country
- JANUARY 1, 2012Vatican CityDEATH PENALTY
The Vatican formally abolished the death penalty from its constitution in 2001.
The Vatican formally abolished the death penalty from its constitution in 2001.
- NOVEMBER 30, 2011Vatican CityDEATH PENALTY
POPE SEEKS END TO DEATH PENALTY
Pope Benedict XVI voiced support for political actions around the world aimed at eliminating the death penalty.
- JANUARY 1, 2011Vatican CityDEATH PENALTY
The Vatican formally abolished the death penalty from its constitution in 2001.
The Vatican formally abolished the death penalty from its constitution in 2001.
- JANUARY 1, 2010Vatican CityDEATH PENALTY
The Vatican formally abolished the death penalty from its constitution in 2001.
The Vatican formally abolished the death penalty from its constitution in 2001.
- APRIL 15, 2009ItalyDEATH PENALTY
USA - New Mexico / Italy / Vatican: Governor Bill Richardson met Pope Benedict today before commemorating New Mexico's repeal of the death penalty. then he met Rome's Mayor, Gianni Alemanno
USA - New Mexico / Italy / Vatican: Governor Bill Richardson met Pope Benedict today before commemorating New Mexico's repeal of the death penalty. then he met Rome's Mayor, Gianni Alemanno
- JANUARY 5, 2009Vatican CityDEATH PENALTY
HOLY SEE: POPE HAILS UN CALL FOR DEATH PENALTY MORATORIUM
Pope Benedict XVI hailed last month's UN resolution calling for a moratorium on the use of the death penalty and called for a debate on the sanctity of life.
- JANUARY 1, 2009Vatican CityDEATH PENALTY
The Vatican formally abolished the death penalty from its constitution in 2001.
The Vatican formally abolished the death penalty from its constitution in 2001.
- DECEMBER 2, 2008Vatican CityDEATH PENALTY
VATICAN NOT IN FAVOR OF DEATH PENALTY FOR GAYS
a proposed EU declaration which would condemn “discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity” was criticised by Archbishop Celestino Migliore, who heads the Holy See’s permanent observer mission to the United Nations.
DECEMBER 1, 2008Vatican CityDEATH PENALTYGAY: RADICALS- VATICAN OPPOSITION TO FRENCH REQUEST CONDONES THOSE WHO DISCRIMINATE
“The opposition of the Apostolic nuncio to the proposed statement is equivalent to condoning those who
- OCTOBER 31, 2008Vatican CityDEATH PENALTY
VATICAN URGES SOUTH KOREA TO ABOLISH DEATH PENALTY
during a recent visit to South Korea, a high-ranking Vatican official asked the prime minister, a Catholic, to abolish the country's death penalty. "
- SEPTEMBER 29, 2008Vatican CityDEATH PENALTY
VATICAN OFFICIAL: DEATH PENALTY SUPPORT DENIES BASIC CHRISTIAN BELIEF
support for the death penalty is a denial of the basic Christian belief that God can turn any person from a life of sin, a Vatican official told a group of justice ministers, judges and lawmakers examining positions on capital punishment. Archbishop Agost
JANUARY 15, 2008Vatican CityDEATH PENALTYPOPE: RADICALS, BELATED INTERVENTION BY RATZINGER ON THE DEATH PENALTY AT LA SAPIENZA
Elisabetta Zamparutti, Treasurer of the Italian Radicals and of Hands Off