Vatican City

Jacob Rowe & Kris Skinner

Religion
-Catholic
-Vatican City was created to make sure that the catholic Church stayed
independant of other countries
-The pope lives there
-The officail religion is Roman Catholic
-Religion is the primary buisness in Vatican City
- of the 600 citizens, most live abroad, regeristering there for religious purposes

Size
-Vatican City is the smallest country
-109 acres (0.44 km)
-is small enough to be inside Rome
-over half the area is gardens
-hardly any residencial area

Political system
-Pope is the ruler
-legislative rule goes to cardinals
-cardinals appointed by pope
-cardnals appointed for 5 years
-executive power given to president within that group
-defenceis given by Italian army

Economy
-Vatican City employs more people than have citizenship
-nearly 2,000 people
-have lots of tourist money
-in 2012 the country was accused of money laundering
-in 2014 changed way money is handled in VC

History / Timeline
-founded in 1929
-stayed neutral during WWII
-Pope John Paul II became first non-Italian Pope since Renaissance
-USA and Vatican established full diplomatic relations
Pope John Paul II installed 44 new cardinals (biggest number ever)

TRIP TO THE VATICAN CITY

Friday

Take a plane from Des Moines to Rome (Leonardo da Vinci International

Airport)
Find a hotel near Vatican City (Preferably Residenza Paolo VI Hotel)
Stay the night (Maybe look a bit around Rome beforehand)

Saturday

Enter the Vatican City (Many places are off limits)

Visit Vatican Museums
Back to Hotel in Rome

Sunday

Return to Vatican City

Visit St. Peters Basilica
Return to Rome airport, go home!