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, 2008Vatican 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 19, 2007Vatican CityDEATH PENALTY
VATICAN SPOKESMAN BACKS UN DRIVE TO END DEATH PENALTY
the Vatican's official spokesman praised a UN initiative calling for a moratorium on the use of the death penalty, calling it “a step in the direction of humanity and of respect for the person.”
FEBRUARY 3, 2007Vatican CityDEATH PENALTYVATICAN. POPE’S MESSAGE TO THE WORLD CONGRESS
The Third World Congress Against the Death Penalty in Paris concluded with a message from Pope
- JANUARY 2, 2007Vatican CityDEATH PENALTY
VATICAN DAILY DENOUNCES IMAGES OF SADDAM'S HANGING AS `SPECTACLE'
the Vatican's official newspaper decried media images of Saddam Hussein's hanging as a “spectacle” violating human rights and harming efforts to promote reconciliation in Iraq. The Vatican, which opposes the death penalty...
- JANUARY 1, 2007Vatican 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 6, 2006Vatican CityDEATH PENALTY
VATICAN CONDEMNS SADDAM SENTENCING
a senior Vatican official lamented the death penalty imposed on former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein on November 5, suggesting it marked a vengeful "eye for an eye" mentality still gripping turmoil-torn Iraq.
- AUGUST 11, 2006Vatican CityDEATH PENALTY
INDONESIA DELAYS CHRISTIAN MILITANT EXECUTIONS
Indonesia delayed until after August 17 the execution of three Christian militants convicted of killing Muslims, national police chief Sutanto told reporters. Fabianus Tibo, Marianus Riwu and Dominggus Silva were to face a firing squad just after midnight
- JULY 21, 2006Vatican CityDEATH PENALTY
VATICAN CITY. VATICAN OPPOSES DEATH PENALTY FOR HUSSEIN
the Vatican demanded that former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein not be sentenced to death
- MARCH 25, 2006AfghanistanDEATH PENALTY
AFGHANISTAN. POPE CALLS ON KARZAI TO SPARE AFGHAN CHRISTIAN CONVERT
Pope Benedict XVI asked Afghan President Hamid Karzai to pardon Abdul Rahman, an Afghan man facing execution for converting to Christianity.
- JANUARY 1, 2006Vatican 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 13, 2005Vatican CityDEATH PENALTY
VATICAN CITY. VATICAN DEPLORES EXECUTION OF US GANG LEADER
the Vatican said there was no room for the death sentence in the modern world after the execution in a US jail of former Los Angeles gang leader Stanley Williams.
JUNE 28, 2005Vatican CityDEATH PENALTYNEW CATECHISM. D’ELIA SAYS CATHOLIC CHURCH’S JUSTICIALISM STILL IN EVIDENCE
on the Compendiun of New Catechism to be presented tomorrow, HOC General Secretary Sergio D’Elia declared: “We have never been fundamentalist about death penalty abolition – in fact we campaign for a UN moratorium on capital executions with a view to abo