Is the Vatican its own country? What to know about the world's smallest sovereign nation
After greeting crowds on Easter Sunday, Pope Francis died on Monday morning.
The frail 88-year-old, known as a humble reformer of the Catholic Church, greeted thousands in St. Peter's Square after Sunday's Easter Mass. For the better part of the year, the pontiff had resided at Rome's Gemelli University Hospital due to a litany of health issues, including bilateral pneumonia.
In addition to leading the Catholic Church, the pope is also the head of Vatican City, a 100-acre sovereign state located in the heart of Rome.
As the world mourns Pope Francis, here's what to know about Vatican City.
Where is Vatican City?
Vatican City is located in Rome, along the Tiber River.
Is the Vatican its own country?
Yes, the Vatican is its own country. In fact, it's the smallest fully independent nation state in the world, according to Britannica. The Vatican was established as an independent country on Feb. 11, 1929.
The Vatican has its own post office, commissary, bank, railway station, electrical plant, television center, publishing house, internet domain (.va), radio station and newspaper, according to the U.S. Department of State. The country also produces its own coins and stamps.
How big is the Vatican?
Vatican City is about 109 acres, all of which is located inside Rome.
Pope Francis' death: Watch livestream: Mourners gather in Vatican City after Pope Francis dies at 88
How many people reside in the Vatican?
In 2023, the Vatican was made up of about 764 residents, according to Britannica.
What is the Holy See?
The Holy See is the governing body of the Catholic Church, operating from Vatican City. It is led by the pope.
What power does the pope have in Vatican City?
The framework of Vatican City's politics occurs within a theocratic absolute elective monarchy, meaning the pope, an elected official, exercises complete legislative, executive, and judicial powers.
What happens next?
Following Pope Francis' funeral, in which a date has yet to be set for, as of Monday, the Catholic Church's most senior officials will gather to discuss Francis' successor. This process is known as a papal conclave.
During a conclave, the College of Cardinals − bishops and Vatican officials chosen by the pope − gather to hold an election for the church's successor. As of April 21, the College of Cardinals was made up of 252 individuals, including 136 who can vote in a conclave, according to The Holy See's College of Cardinals Dashboard.
The College of Cardinals discusses the needs and challenges facing the Catholic Church and then gathers in St. Peter's Basilica to invoke the guidance of the Holy Spirit on who should be the successor, according to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Before the election begins, the electors enter the Sistine Chapel, take an oath of secrecy and seal the church's doors. As for the election, each cardinal votes by secret ballot. He says a prayer and then drops his twice-folded ballot in a large chalice, according to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Four rounds of voting are conducted each day until one candidate receives two-thirds of the vote.
Though these meetings are held in secrecy, the rest of the world is notified of the group's daily decisions by white or black-colored smoke funneled from the top of the Sistine Chapel. Black smoke indicates a non-conclusive answer, while white smoke indicates that a new pope has been selected.
Once a candidate has received two-thirds of the cardinals' votes, the senior cardinal deacon announces him from the balcony of St. Peter's before the new pope steps out to face a welcoming crowd.
Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Story idea? Email her at gcross@usatoday.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Is the Vatican its own country? What to know after Pope Francis' death
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