Politics of Vatican City
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The politics of Vatican City take place in a framework of a
The pope is elected in the
Administration of Vatican City
As with almost all monarchies, the executive, legislative and judicial power of government reside in the crown, in this case in the office of the
The pope commonly delegates the internal administration of
The pope delegates
The President of the Pontifical Commission is also the
Executive
Office | Name | Party | Since |
---|---|---|---|
Sovereign | Pope Francis | 13 March 2013 | |
President of the Governorate |
Fernando Vérgez Alzaga | 1 October 2021 |
The Pope is
Vatican City is a member of
Vatican City does not have direct diplomatic relations with other states. Its foreign relations are managed by the Holy See. See Holy See – Relationship with the Vatican City and other territories.
Legislative
A unicameral
The "Councillors of the State" give their consultation in the drafting of legislation.[7] They may be consulted either alone or collegially.[8]
Judiciary
The population of the state is a few hundred. Each day outsiders come there to work. 18 million people visit there each year.
In one year its courts tried 640 civil cases and 226 penal cases.[10]
The penal cases are usually for minor crimes such as pickpocketing.[11] If such crimes are committed in Saint Peter's Square, the perpetrators may be arrested and tried by the Italian authorities, since that area is normally patrolled by Italian police.[12]
Under the terms of article 22 of the Lateran Treaty,[13] Italy will, at the request of the Holy See, punish individuals for crimes committed within Vatican City and will itself proceed against the person who committed the offence, if that person takes refuge in Italian territory. Persons accused of crimes recognized as such both in Italy and in Vatican City that are committed in Italian territory will be handed over to the Italian authorities if they take refuge in Vatican City or in buildings that under the treaty enjoy immunity.[13][14]
Vatican City has no prison system, apart from a few detention cells for pre-trial detention.[15][11] People convicted of committing crimes in the Vatican serve terms in Italian prisons (Polizia Penitenziaria), with costs covered by the Vatican.[16]
On 16 March 2020, it was announced that Pope Francis signed a new motu proprio into law on March 13, 2020 which reforms the Vatican's judicial system.[17][18] The motu proprio, titled Law CCCLI, updates the laws governing the Vatican's judiciary system and also replaced the previous judicial system which was founded in 1987.[18][17] The new law provides for greater independence of judicial bodies and magistrates dependent on the Pope.[19] It also specifies the requirements for the appointment of judges and it simplifies the judicial system while increasing the staff of the court.[19] Furthermore, it provides a head for the Office of the Promoter of Justice (prosecutor’s office), and sets out a standardized procedure for possible disciplinary action against certified advocates.[19]
See also
- Governor of Vatican City
- Index of Vatican City-related articles
References
- ^ Fundamental Law of Vatican City State, Art. 1, No. 1
- ^ Ap. Const. Universi Dominici Gregis n. 89
- ^ ZENIT news agency, "179 states have full diplomatic relations with the Holy See" Archived 16 January 2012 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Fundamental Law of Vatican City State, Art. 1, § 1
- ^ Fundamental Law of Vatican City State, Art. 3 §1
- ^ Fundamental Law of Vatican City State, Art. 4 §3
- ^ Fundamental Law of Vatican City State, Art. 13 §1
- ^ Fundamental Law of Vatican City State, Art. 13 §2
- ^ "Legge che approva l'ordinamento giudiziario dello Stato della Città del Vaticano (Suppl. 12)" (PDF). Acta Apostolicae Sedis (AAS) 79. Holy See. 1987. p. 45–.
- ^ Alessandro Speciale, "The Vatican Tribunal as a model of efficiency" in Catholic.net
- ^ a b Nadeau, Barbie. "Pope's butler arrested over Vatican documents leak." CNN. 26 May 2012. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
- ^ "Carol Glatz, "Man seriously injured after setting self on fire in St. Peter's Square" in Catholic News Service, 19 December 2013". Archived from the original on 5 February 2014. Retrieved 18 July 2014.
- ^ a b "INTER SANCTAM SEDEM ET ITALIAE REGNUM CONVENTIONES* INITAE DIE 11 FEBRUARII 1929" (in Italian). Vatican.va. Retrieved 12 July 2013.
- ^ Shea, Alison. "Researching the Law of the Vatican City State". Hauser Global Law School Program. New York University School of Law. Archived from the original on 17 October 2013. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
- ^ How Does Vatican City Deal With Criminals? Slate. 30 May 2012. Retrieved 18 April 2013.
- Spiegel Online. 19 January 2007. Retrieved 25 August 2010.
- ^ a b "Pope Francis reforms Vatican City courts with new law".
- ^ a b "Pope updates Vatican City State judicial system".
- ^ a b c "New law for Vatican City responds to current needs - Vatican News". 16 March 2020.