Vatican City

The Vatican occupies less than 0.2 of a square mile and has little room for homes. The city has about 800 residents making it one of the most densely occupied countries on earth.

The Vatican City does not have a president.

Raphael(APEX)

Yes and No. It depends on how you mean "doctrines."

Some of what the church teaches is considered dogma - central truths of the faith that are revealed by God. These cannot and did not change, but our understanding of them, and thus the way the Church describes them, can and does change. In this sense there were changes at Vatican II.

Not a single article of Faith was rescinded by the Council, nor was any new dogma established. The fundamental teaching of the Christian Faith did not change, as some of the Council's critics have claimed.

Some of what the church teaches is considered doctrine - truth derived from or related to dogma, but not necessarily central or necessary for salvation. These can and do change to some degree, though again it is more often that it is the way they are presented that changes. However some things clearly changed, for example, the Church's attitude toward ecumenism and religious freedom are doctrinal in some respects, but also pastoral. And the orientation of the church changed at Vatican II towards these and many other theological-pastoral teachings.

Finally, some of what the Church 'teaches' are really disciplines. These can always change, and many did change at Vatican II, or more accurately as a result of the new principles and presentation of doctrine by the Council. This is the way we do things, like whether the Eucharist is celebrated always in Latin, or in the vernacular as a n option. This is not doctrine, but sometimes people think of theses things as such.

Certain already-established teachings were clarified (e.g. the relationship between the Blessed Mother and the Church) and the Council Fathers spent a lot of time offering guidelines for how to engage the modern world in modern was rather than only clinging to the methods of the past (e.g. the Decree on the Media of Social Communications).

The Vatican is governed as an ecclesiastical state, with the Pope serving as its supreme ruler. The governance structure includes the Roman Curia, which assists the Pope in administering the affairs of the Church and the state. The Vatican City has its own legal system and police force, and its governance is characterized by a unique blend of religious authority and political sovereignty. The Pope's decisions are final, and he appoints various officials to aid in the administration of the Vatican's functions.

The main thing for which Cardinal Augustin Bea (1881-1968) will be remembered is his devotion to ecumenism. He dearly wanted all Christians to be united on some level and tried to bring about some understanding between the Roman Catholic Church and Judaism. He had grand vision in that he wanted to bring about some understanding not only with other Christians, but with non-Christian religions as well. He was the author of many books on ecumenism, the most notable being Nostra Aetate (Our Age), which was approved by Pope Paul VI and published in 1965. He was particularly incensed by anti-Semitism and drafted another book Decretum de Judaeis (Decree on the Jews) which was finalized in 1961 but unfortunately never formally presented to the Second Vatican Council which meant his thoughts on anti-Semitism were never properly aired at Vatican II. Unlike the current pope, Benedict XVI who is a traditionalist/conservative, Cardinal Bea will be remembered as a truly progressive ecumenist who died to soon as his driving force may well have really modernised the Roman Catholic Church.

Michelangelo

7 hills are sorrounding the Vatican City.

Pope John XXIII called for Vatican 2.

No, it is not surrounded by walls. Sometimes the only thing that separates the Vatican from Rome is a white painted line.

The reason that this and all other Vatican councils in the future will be held in Rome is because Rome is the head of the Catholic Church.

By the way as a bonus fact, most people think that Vatican City is part of Italy because it is in the center, but it isn't. Vatican is it's own independent nation. Hope this helps! ;)

The dress code for visiting the Vatican is the same that applies when you visit any church in Italy. What to wear at the Vatican? The absolute minimum required for both male and females visiting the Vatican would be clothing covering both your knees and shoulders. Preferably you should wear long pants and long sleeve shirts, but in the summer months when temperatures can get to 90 degrees many visitors forget these requirements. Such things as short shorts, tank tops and the like are frowned upon and will prevent you from entering the Basilica.

The Diocese of the Bishop of Rome's other name is the Holy See.

Poultry is from warm blooded animals and is considered as meat as regarding the abstinence rules.

The Second Vatican Council addressed Sacraments, but it did not define them, they had previously been defined. Vatican II addressed the fact that Jesus was present in the sacraments, the He was the source of the sacraments, it gave directives for communal celebration, the Eastern Churches, indulgences for the sacraments, norms for administration of them, the purpose, sacred music, and addressed the revision of them, but it did not define them.

While the Vatican does have its own radio station, people in the Vatican are free to listen to any of the dozens of stations broadcasting from Rome.

He normally lives in the Papal Apartments in the Apostolic Palace. During the heat of the summer he usually spends that season at Castel Gandolfo just outside of Rome. Pope Francis has decided to live in a small apartment in the Casa Santa Marta.

Yes, there are many trees in the Papal Gardens of the Vatican.

The Vatican Police - Corpo della Gendarmeria dello Stato della Città del Vaticano) is charged with maintaining law and order as well as security within the Vatican. If they make an arrest the culprit is turned over to Italian police for prosecution and incarceration with the Vatican paying the costs.

God (who is not really a 'person') and Adam- aka the representative of all man-kind- it's the scene of God giving man life.

There are no true natives of Vatican City. Of the 800-850 residents, only about 220 have Vatican citizenship and that includes the pope, all cardinals that are assigned to work in the Vatican as well as some members of the papal diplomatic corps.

The Vatican City has no natural resources.

The Vatican has no place for pets. It is crowded with tourists and has no place for animals to do what animals do. They would leave their droppings everywhere for people to step into.

Yes, but in certain areas, such as museums, flashes are not allowed.