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
- SEPTEMBER 13, 2000Vatican CityDEATH PENALTY
Pope John Paul renewed appeals to U
Pope John Paul renewed appeals to U
- JULY 25, 2000Vatican CityDEATH PENALTY
Pope John Paul asked the governor of the U
Pope John Paul asked the governor of the U
- JUNE 16, 2000Vatican CityDEATH PENALTY
In a statement, the Vatican said it was happy about...
In a statement, the Vatican said it was happy about the acquittal but noted that thousands of other prisoners were still languishing in jails
- JUNE 14, 2000Vatican CityDEATH PENALTY
Senior Roman Catholic Church figures closed ranks in...
Senior Roman Catholic Church figures closed ranks in support of Bishop Augustin Misago, accused of helping to plan the 1994 genocide in Rwanda
- JUNE 7, 2000Vatican CityDEATH PENALTY
Bennie Demps, a condemned man who spent more than half...
Bennie Demps, a condemned man who spent more than half his 49 years on Death Row, was executed in Florida
- MAY 10, 2000Vatican CityDEATH PENALTY
Pope John Paul sent a telegram of solidarity to Rwandan...
Pope John Paul sent a telegram of solidarity to Rwandan Bishop Augustin Misago, who was on trial in Rwanda on genocide charges
- FEBRUARY 20, 2000Vatican CityDEATH PENALTY
Pope John Paul II appealed to Texas Governor, George W
Pope John Paul II appealed to Texas Governor, George W
- NOVEMBER 3, 1999Vatican CityDEATH PENALTY
On November 3 Ambassador Renato Martino, speaking at...
On November 3 Ambassador Renato Martino, speaking at the Third Committee of the General Assembly (human rights) under item 116a (death penalty), said that the right to life is an inalienable right of every human person
- AUGUST 1, 1999Vatican CityDEATH PENALTY
In August, Pope John Paul asked Texas Governor George W
In August, Pope John Paul asked Texas Governor George W
- MARCH 13, 1999Vatican CityDEATH PENALTY
On March 13, Pope John Paul asked Italy's President...
On March 13, Pope John Paul asked Italy's President to show clemency towards Mehmet Ali Agca, the Turkish gunman who shot and nearly killed the Pontiff in 1981
- FEBRUARY 8, 1999Vatican CityDEATH PENALTY
On February 8, Archbishop Gabriel Montalvo, the Vatican...
On February 8, Archbishop Gabriel Montalvo, the Vatican ambassador to the United States, sent a letter to California Governor Gray Davis to appeal for clemency for Thai citizen Jaturun Siripongs
- FEBRUARY 5, 1999Vatican CityDEATH PENALTY
On February 5, the Philippines Supreme Court rejected...
On February 5, the Philippines Supreme Court rejected a last-minute appeal to halt the execution of Leo Echegaray, who was put to death at 3