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
- 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
- DECEMBER 11, 1999Vatican CityDEATH PENALTY
On December 11, Pope John Paul appealed for the world...
On December 11, Pope John Paul appealed for the world to seize the new millennium as an opportunity to abolish the death penalty
- 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
- JANUARY 27, 1999Vatican CityDEATH PENALTY
On January 27, Pope John Paul sent out a loud and clear...
On January 27, Pope John Paul sent out a loud and clear message to Americans to oppose abortion, resist the destructive evil of racism and put an end to the unnecessary cruelty of the death penalty
- JANUARY 26, 1999Vatican CityDEATH PENALTY
On January 26, after his arrival in the United States...
On January 26, after his arrival in the United States from Mexico, the Pope had a brief talk with President Bill Clinton, touching upon Iraq and Cuba
- JANUARY 23, 1999Vatican CityDEATH PENALTY
On January 23, addressing 10,000 Roman Catholics crammed...
On January 23, addressing 10,000 Roman Catholics crammed into the Basilica of Guadalupe, in Mexico, one of the church's most venerated sites, Pope John Paul II appeared to be wagging his finger both at Mexico and the United States, his two hosts on his 85