<text id=94CT1509><title>Holy See (Vatican City)—Government</title>
<article><source>CIA Factbook</source>
<hdr>The World Factbook 1994: Holy See (Vatican City)<nl>Government</hdr><body>
<list>
<item><hi format=bold>Names:</hi>
<list style=hang>
<item>• <hi format=ital>conventional long form:</hi> The Holy See (State of the Vatican City)
<item>• <hi format=ital>conventional short form:</hi> Holy See (Vatican City)
<item>• <hi format=ital>local long form:</hi> Santa Sede (Stato della Citta del Vaticano)
<item>• <hi format=ital>local short form:</hi> Santa Sede (Citta del Vaticano)
</list>
<item><hi format=bold>Digraph:</hi> VT
<item><hi format=bold>Type:</hi> monarchical-sacerdotal state
<item><hi format=bold>Capital:</hi> Vatican City
<item><hi format=bold>Independence:</hi> 11 February 1929 (from Italy)
<item><hi format=bold>National holiday:</hi> Installation Day of the Pope, 22 October (1978) (John Paul II)
<list style=hang>
<item>• <hi format=ital>note:</hi> Pope John Paul II was elected on 16 October 1978
</list>
<item><hi format=bold>Constitution:</hi> Apostolic Constitution of 1967 (effective 1 March 1968)
<item><hi format=bold>Legal system:</hi> NA
<item><hi format=bold>Suffrage:</hi> limited to cardinals less than 80 years old
<item><hi format=bold>Executive branch:</hi>
<list style=hang>
<item>• <hi format=ital>chief of state:</hi> Pope JOHN PAUL II (Karol WOJTYLA; since 16 October 1978); election last held 16 October 1978 (next to be held after the death of the current pope); results—Karol WOJTYLA was elected for life by the College of Cardinals
<item>• <hi format=ital>head of government:</hi> Secretary of State Archbishop Angelo Cardinal SODANO (since NA 1991)
<item>• <hi format=ital>cabinet:</hi> Pontifical Commission; appointed by Pope
<item><hi format=bold>Flag:</hi> two vertical bands of yellow (hoist side) and white with the crossed keys of Saint Peter and the papal miter centered in the white band