Flags of the World | Vatican

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The flag of Vatican City was adopted on June 7, 1929, the year Pope Pius XI signed the Lateran Treaty with Italy, creating a new independent state governed by the Holy See. The Vatican flag is modeled on the 1808 yellow and white flag of the earlier Papal States.

The flag is probably one of the smallest. With height to width 1:1 it is actually a square. 

St. Peter's Square | Rome

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St. Peter's Square or Piazza San Pietro, was created in the 17th century by Bernini, a prominent Roman architect. The square is a massive plaza located directly in front of St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican City, the papal enclave surrounded by Rome. 

Papa Francesco | Franciscus PP

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The Jesuit Jorge Mario Bergoglio (76) from Argentina, born in 1936 as the son of Italian immigrants, is the first Jesuit in the papal office and also the first non-European.

 

For the first time in history there is a Pope who comes from South America. And for the first time a member of the Jesuit order holds the highest ecclesiastical Office. Francis is the 266th consecutive Pope.

“My people are poor and I am one of them”, he has said more than once, explaining his decision to live in an apartment and cook his own supper.

Ioannes Paulus PP. II

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Pope John Paul II (18 May 1920 – 2 April 2005), was the head of the Catholic Church from October 1978 to his death in 2005. He was the second longest-serving pope in history and the first non-Italian since Pope Adrian VI, who died in 1523.

Pope John Paul II in Latin is “Ioannes Paulus PP.II”

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St. Vitus Cathedral is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Prague, and the seat of the Archbishop of Prague. 

Città del Vaticano | Vatican City

 

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Vatican City is a landlocked sovereign city-state whose territory consists of a walled enclave within the city of Rome. 

Joseph Ratzinger, born April 1927, was elected to the papacy on April 19, 2005, upon the death of Pope John Paul II.  In February 2013, at age 85, Pope Benedict XVI announced that he would be resigning on February 28, 2013—becoming the first pope in 600 years to step down from his post.

 

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Vatican City State has issued four stamps with the image of an angel raising the pavilion (“umbraculum”) of the Apostolic Camera, the work of Italian artist Daniela Longo. The use of these stamps as postage is only available during the Sede Vacante, ending with the election of the new Pope.