VATICAN CITY — Vatican City State was created as a result of the Lateran Pacts hammered out 75 years ago this Feb. 11 between the Holy See and the Kingdom of Italy.

The outcome of that agreement: a unique legal entity and sovereign body under international law, distinct from the Holy See. It's unique culturally, too — the U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization has declared the whole of the territory of Vatican City as part of the world's cultural heritage.

Located close to the left bank of the Tiber River in Rome, Vatican City — the smallest state in the world — measures 108.7 acres, or 44 hectares. Located on the mons vaticanus, the eighth hill of Rome, it is bordered by the Leonine Walls and, in St. Peter's Square, by the circular travertine strip in the pavement that joins the two arms of the Bernini colonnade.

This lovely, tranquil mini-state, set in the midst of the hustle and bustle of Rome, boasts splendid, centuries-old buildings; chapels and churches; a seminary; a mosaic factory; the famed Vatican Library, Secret Archives and Vatican Museums; a second-century necropolis, the scavi under St. Peter's where the first Pope and the basilica's namesake is buried; stores, a pharmacy and gas stations; and a fire department, printing office and medical center.

And acres and acres of breathtaking gardens — some formal, some wild, all lush — dotted with stone benches, statuary and unique fountains whose water comes from Lake Bracciano, 40 kilometers outside of Rome.

There are five entrances to Vatican City, all secured by Swiss Guards or by the vigilanza, the Vatican's police force: the Arch of the Bells (Arco delle Campane), a tunnel-like entrance to the left of St. Peter's Basilica; the Bronze Door (Portone di Bronzo), which is considered the official entrance to the Apostolic Palace and is situated at the juncture of the palace and the right-hand Bernini colonnade; the St. Ann, or Sant'Anna entrance, which takes its name from the parish church located just inside Vatican City to your right as you enter from Via di Porta Angelica; the Petrine or Sant'Uffizio entrance, by which one enters the Paul VI Hall, just outside the left-hand colonnade of St. Peter's Square; and the Perugino entrance on the south wall of the Vatican.

Vatican City State's 700-plus inhabitants include people of many different nationalities, though most are Italian. At least 400 have Vatican citizenship, including those bishops who are heads of dicasteries. All cardinals residing in Rome have automatic Vatican citizenship but preserve their original citizenship.

The government is an elective monarchy for life. The head of state is the pope, who has full legislative, executive and judicial power. During the period of a vacant see, these powers are assumed by the College of Cardinals.

Representation of the state and its relations with other states is reserved for the pope, who exercises it through his Secretariat of State. Both Vatican City State and the Holy See enjoy international recognition and are members of or hold permanent-observer status in international and intergovernmental organizations, participate in international conferences with permanent observers and adhere to the respective conventions.

The Holy See, for example, to name but a few of its international engagements, participates in the United Nations (permanent observer, New York and Geneva); the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization, observer, Rome; the International Atomic Energy Agency, member, Vienna; the International Labor Organization, observer, Geneva; the International Telecommunications Satellite Organization, a member also in the name and on behalf of Vatican City State; Latin Union, observer, Paris; U.N. Center for Human Settlements, observer, Nairobi, Kenya.

All the territory of Vatican City State is under the protection of the Hague Convention of May 1954 regarding the care of cultural goods in case of armed conflict. The state is thus recognized, even in international conventions, as a moral, artistic and cultural patrimony worthy of being respected and protected.

Vatican City State has its own currency and issues its own postage stamps, and both are very much in demand by collectors and everyday tourists to the Vatican. Vatican currency circulates legally in both Italy and the Republic of San Marino, by virtue of special treaties signed with each. The letters on the license plate of Vatican automobiles are SCV (Stato della Città del Vaticano) — Italians like to quip that SCV stands for “se Cristo vedesse — if Christ could see.”

Administratively, Vatican City State is comprised of the vicariate of Vatican City, with its ecclesiastical tribunal; the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State, which coordinates the General Secretariat of the Governorate and on whom depend the general directorates of the Pontifical Monuments, Museums and Galleries; technical, economic and health services; general services; the Vatican Observatory; Archaeological Studies and Research; and the Pontifical Villas. American-born Cardinal Edmund Szoka, former archbishop of Detroit, is the president off the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State, a sort of “governor.”

Also under the direction of the Secretariat of the Governorate are the Security Corps; the Vatican Pharmacy; the Commission for Personnel and the Disciplinary Commission; the Tribunals; the Permanent Commission for the Care of Historical and Artistic Monuments of the Holy See; and the Health Assistance Fund.

All in all, an impressive package to be packed into just a little more than 100 acres!

Joan Lewis works for Vatican Information Service.