The Holy See dates back to Early Christianity and is the principal episcopal see of the Catholic Church, which has approximately 1.329 billion baptised Catholics in the world as of 2018 in the Latin Church and 23 Eastern Catholic Churches. After the Avignon Papacy (1309–1377) the popes have mainly resided at the Apostolic Palace within what is now Vatican City, although at times residing instead in the Quirinal Palace in Rome or elsewhere.

The highest state functionaries are all Catholic clergy of various national origins. As governed by the Holy See, the Vatican City State is an ecclesiastical or sacerdotal- monarchical state ruled by the pope who is the bishop of Rome and head of the Catholic Church. With an area of 49 hectares (121 acres) and a population of about 453, it is the smallest state in the world by both area and population.

The Vatican City State, also known simply as the Vatican, became independent from Italy with the Lateran Treaty (1929), and it is a distinct territory under 'full ownership, exclusive dominion, and sovereign authority and jurisdiction' of the Holy See, itself a sovereign entity of international law, which maintains the city state's temporal, diplomatic, and spiritual independence.

Vatican City ( / ˈ v æ t ɪ k ən/ ( listen)), officially Vatican City State ( Italian: Stato della Città del Vaticano Latin: Status Civitatis Vaticanae), is an independent city-state and enclave surrounded by Rome, Italy.

Universal life church ministers licence