Vatican (Catholic Church)

The Vatican is an independent city-state located within Rome, Italy, serving as the spiritual and administrative center of the Roman Catholic Church. It is the residence of the Pope, the church’s leader, and the global authority for Catholics. The Vatican oversees church doctrine, governance, and diplomacy, and houses important religious sites like St. Peter's Basilica. It functions as both a religious authority and a diplomatic entity, fostering global Catholic unity and representing the church's interests internationally. Despite its small size, the Vatican holds significant religious, cultural, and historical influence worldwide.