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(1:1)
by Željko Heimer, 11 October 2004
Official Name: The Holy See (State of the
Vatican City) - Santa Sede (Stato della Citta del Vaticano)
Capital: Vatican City
Location: Enclave of Rome (Italy)
Government Type: Ecclesiastical
Flag adopted: 8
June 1929 (Introduced in 1825)
Coat of Arms adopted: 7 June 1929
ISO Code: VA
Part I (this page):
Part II (next page):
See also:
Other sites:
There seem to be a confusion between the Vatican City State,
the minuscule state that exists only since 1929, and the Holy See
(of Rome), which is the entity which is active in all
international relationships except those of a clearly territorial
nature, such as membership of UPU (Universal Postal Union),
INTELSAT, CEPT and UNIDROIT (International Institute for the
Unification of Private Law).
No government would have much interest in relations with so tiny
a state as Vatican City. But 172 states maintain diplomatic
relations with the Holy See, and half of those that have
accredited their ambassador to the Holy See find it worthwhile to
have him or her resident in Rome, distinct from their ambassador
to the Italian Republic.
The flag of the Vatican City State is as on your webpage, showing
the arms with the silver key in the dexter position. When
what is represented is the Holy See, not Vatican City State, the
keys are reversed. Rather, when the state was set up in
1929, the keys in the arms of the Holy
See, with the gold one in dexter position, were reversed to
provide a distinctive symbol for the new entity. In the
personal arms of the popes, the keys are, of course, arranged as
in the arms of the Holy See: the other arrangement would be
equivalent to treating him as merely the head of that little
state. The arrangement for the Holy See is seen on Arms of John Paul II.
Rather than "the keys of paradise", as given on your
page, the reference would be better expressed exactly as in
Jesus' words to Peter in St Matthew's Gospel 16:19 "I will
give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven."
I doubt too the exactness of the description given of the papal
flag in use before the Napoleonic occupation of Rome. The
flag used then was that of the city of Rome, which, if I rightly
recall what is today displayed in Rome, is not "yellow and
red" but gold (yellow) and purple, as it no doubt was also
in 1848 and before 1808.
"nuntius", 14 Febuary 2000
The Vatican has citizens (1500 persons), but there is nobody
with only Vatican citizenship. For example, the Pope is citizen
of both the Vatican and Poland. The other peculiarity is that the
Vatican issues only diplomatic passports, so this is a country,
where all the citizens are diplomats.
Maxval, 14 March 2001
I would suppose the Holy See could be considered to be part of
the government of the Vatican City State, which does have a small
territory.
Elias Granqvist, 15 March 2001
US Department of State's background notes on the Holy See
explain the situation this way:
"The term "Holy See" refers to the composite of
the authority, jurisdiction, and sovereignty vested in the Pope
and his advisers to direct the worldwide Roman Catholic Church.
As the "central government" of the Roman Catholic
Church, the Holy See has a legal personality that allows it to
enter into treaties as the juridical equal of a state and to send
and receive diplomatic representatives. The Holy See has formal
diplomatic relations with 166 nations, including the United
States. Libya, Guyana, and Angola established diplomatic
relations in 1997. Created in 1929 to administer properties
belonging to the Holy See in Rome, the State of the Vatican City
is recognized under international law and enters into
international agreements. Unlike the Holy See, it does not
receive or send diplomatic representatives."
Joe McMillan, 15 March 2001
I notice that the Vatican is listed as "Holy See" in
a list of UN observers at the UN site. Is this used as an
alternative name only, or does it imply something else- more of a
supernational organization, the Catholic Church perhaps? It is
listed as a "non-member state".
Nathan Lamm, 1 October 2002
Holy See is the center of the catholic church, while Vatican
City State is the territorial unit where Holy See is placed. (the
situation is much more complicated, as Holy See not *the* state
is a subject of diplomatic recognition. See web page of the Holy
See's observer mission to UN.) The HS is not a member of UN (and
does not want to become a member). Again - see the web page: <www.holyseemission.org>.
Jan Zrzavy, 1 October 2002
"In the period between the annexation of the Papal State
by Italy in 1870 and the restoration of its temporal sovereignty
in the Lateran Treaty of 1929, the Holy Sea concluded treaties
(in the form of concordats) and entertained diplomatic relations
with the great majority of States. It was to that extent a
subject of international law without being a State in the
accepted sense of the term." (International Law; Collected
Papers of Hersch Lauterpacht).
David Prothero, 29 December 2002
Vatican has 44 hectares of area + 13 other dependencies of
which Castel Gandolfo who has 7 km2, if I remember well. The Holy
See of whom Vatican is the head territory (Vatican is not
strictly equal to Holy See), is the remnant of the Church States.
Jean-Marc Merklin, 28 December 2002
Crampton (1990) states that
the yellow and white used today date from 1808. Before that,
yellow and red were used. However, I'm reading Trevelyan's Garibaldi
and the Defence of the Roman Republic at the moment and that
source clearly describes the Papal colours in 1848 as still being
yellow and red.
Roy Stilling, 13 May 1996
From Smith (1975): 'In the
whole middle age red was the colour of Catholic Church, and gold
was used for the crossed papal keys. Napoleon mixed his army with
papal, so pope Pius VII decided new colours should be found.'
Pius VII choose gold and silver, and those were accepted in 1825.
The flag was used until 1870, when the state was integrated into
Italy. When the City of Vatican was formed as separate state, it
took the same flag in 1929.
Željko Heimer, 16 May 1996
According to 'Pavillons nationaux et marques distinctives' [Payrat (2000)] - State Flag
(CSW/--- (1:1)) - Vertically divided yellow-white with the keys
emblem in the middle of the last. The image above matches very
well to the 2000 Album issue, here the construction sheet is
given as (1+2+1):(2+2), i.e. the hight of the keys emblem is half
the flag hoist. There are minor differences in keys emblem, but
they are of no significance, I believe - every representation of
the keys is somewhat differently stylized, and I do not believe
that there exists a preffered or official one.
The 2003 correction have the emblem set to larger then half the
hoist (8/23), or if you prefer the "rational"
expression (15+16+15):(23+23). Here the keys are again somewhat
differently stylzed then in 2000 issue, notable, they include a
cross thoughout the key rings, otherwise very much the same. I
don't know what was reason for the change, possibly some document
from Vatican was received by Armand lately.
Željko Heimer, 14 August 2003
The corr. 3. gives a new construction details of the VA flag
(even though the image there does not follow it). The size of the
emblem in the white field is just a bit larger then one third of
the height, so (15+16+15):(23+23).
Željko Heimer, 25 December 2003
According to the Legislation, Album 2000
original issue is correct and the Corr. 3 is not. I should have
pointed out, the 2:3 is an unofficial variant (to match the
official one), and as such surely would come in many versions.
The 1:1 is the only official one.
Željko Heimer, 11 October 2004
On 14 July 2008, the Catholic News Agency (CNA) summarized
an article published a week earlier in
"L’Osservatore Romano" by the historian Claudio
Ceresa, as follows:
"[...] In an article entitled, “Two centuries of yellow
and white as the papal colors,” Ceresa explained that in
order to understand why the colors were chosen, one must consider
the “occupation of the city by Napoleonic troops in February
of 1808.”
“The commander of the French forces, General Miollis, posted
notices on the walls informing that the Pope’s army would be
incorporated into the imperial forces. Those officials who
remained loyal to Pius VII were to be arrested and
deported,” Ceresa explained. “Reaction was
minimal because it was reported that the Pontiff was aware and
did not resist. Only a small group of loyalists were deported to
a prison in Mantova.”
“In order to underscore the unification, and probably to
increase the situation of uncertainty as well,” Ceresa
continued, “the papal soldiers were allowed to continue
using the distinctive yellow-red colors on their hats.”
Ceresa afterwards noted that the Pope “did not want the
Vatican State to be subject to Napoleon, and therefore on March
13, 1808 he forcefully protested. He ordered, among
other things, that the units that were still loyal to him
substitute the Roman insignia colors with white and yellow.”
Abbot Luca Antonio Benedetalla wrote in his diary on the same
date that “in order not to confuse the Roman soldiers who
were under French command with the few that remained in his
service, the Pope ordered the new yellow and white insignia. The
noble guard and the Swiss have adopted it. They like it,” he
wrote.
Ceresa explained that three days later, on March 16, 1808, Pius
VII sent the order in writing to the diplomatic corps, the
document is considered to be the act creating the colors of the
current flag of Vatican City.”
Ivan Sache, 17 July 2008
image by Željko Heimer, 11 October 2004
image by Željko Heimer, 11 October 2004
The 2:3 unofficial variant (C--/-- (2:3)) is certainly used
sometimes in "civil use", i.e. when it serves mere
ornamental purpose more then statehood one. The 2000 issue give
here also construction details (1+2+1):(3+3), but this surely
must be orientational - the flag is unofficial anyway. The 2003
issue removes this construction details. See: Non-Square
Flags.
Željko Heimer, 14 August 2003
The unofficial variant in 2:3 is also shown, in corr. 3
without the construction details (in original 2000 issue it had
details, but these are now removed, presumably no sence in
determining construction details for an unofficial flag). The
details were in effect so that the height of the emblem is half
the flag height.
Željko Heimer, 25 December 2003
All of the flags I saw on the street and on television during
the recent papal visit (including in front of the White House in
Washington DC), were of the unofficial 2:3 variation.
Roger Moyer, 5 May 2008
As explained here, nothing in the
official description of the flag requires it to be square, that
the version illustrated in the law is the one that is carried as
an infantry color and actually is square, but
that flags hoisted in Vatican City are generally not
square but rather 2:3.
Joe McMillan, 14 May 2008
I beg to disagree. Below is the legislation
that both established and confirmed the flag - the Acts of 1929
and 2001 state in Article 20 that:
"1. The flag of the City of the Vatican consists of two
fields divided vertically, yellow field on the staff side and a
white field on the other side, which bears the tiara and the
keys, the whole following the Model A annexed to the present
law."
I then go on go give the details of Model A both of which (I now
have copies of) show a flag in proportions of 1:1.
Neither of these Laws relate to a military colour but to the
"flag of the City of the Vatican", so I would suggest
that 1:1 are indeed the 'official' proportions and our comments
thus justified by written source.
However, we have a first hand account (and my own notes taken
verbatum from those of William Crampton) that flags with
proportions of 2:3 are in use by the Vatican City State, so such
flags are known to be in use as a variant.
Christopher Southworth, 15 May 2008
As it happens, we have the image
from the constitution, courtesy of Fr. Becker. As can be
seen, nothing on the graphic indicates dimensions. Obviously,
since there is a drawing, ratio-hungry vexillologists
instinctively interpret that as the one and only correct
ratio. But by that logic they would also have to
conclude that the flag must always be displayed with a spearhead
finial, a spiral-striped pole, and a yellow-and-white cravat
attached above the upper hoist!
It seems to me that if neither the text nor the picture specify a
ratio, whether explicitly or implicitly, then we must conclude
that there is no official ratio.
Joe McMillan, 15 May 2008
I must still beg to disagree. To me a flag defined by
illustation remains defined - and the wording of both Legal
instruments specifically state that it is so - regardless of
whether that illustration actually contains figures or it does
not.
The point with regard to the cravat, finial and pole
is (none-the-less) was cogently argued and well taken, but may I
suggest that these are designed to show the flag in in its
highest degree of ceremonial presentation (similarly to those
flags of US states which are defined as having a fringe which is
never used in general practice)?
Christopher Southworth, 16 May 2008
The current (second) Constitution (Fundamental Law) of the
State of the City of Vatican was published in "Acta
Apostolicae Sedis" on 26 November 2000, and came into force
on 22 February 2001. The wording of Article 20 of this
last is, however, identical to that of Article 19 in the first
Constitution (the so-called Treaty of Lateran) dated 7 June 1929,
and both read as follows:
"Article 20:
1. The flag of the City of the Vatican consists of two fields
divided vertically, yellow field on the staff side and a white
field on the other side, which bears the tiara and the keys, the
whole following the model A annexed to the present law.
2. The shield shows the tiara with the keys, according to the
model B annexed to the present law.
3. The seal bears in the centre the tiara and the keys, and on
the circumference the words "Città del Vaticano"'
[State of Vatican City], according to the model C annexed to the
present law.
Annex A - Official flag of the State of Vatican City:
Cloth divided per pale of yellow and white, the white charged
amid with the crossed Keys surmounted by the
Tiara. Flagpole coated of gold, topped by a spearhead
decorated by a cocarde in the same colours as the flag and gold
fringed."
And the illustration shows a square flag on a staff with a
spearpoint finial (but no fringe) as did that in the 1929
Constitution.
According to both Annex A to the "Acta Apostolicae Sedis
Supplemento per le Leggi e Dispozioni dello Sato dello Cita del
Vaticano" - the so-called Treaty of Lateran - of 7 June
1929, and to Annex A of the recent Constititution, the arms are
illustrated at exactly one-half of flag width as opposed to the
one-third we show on fotw. Interestingly enough, the
apostolic arms as used on the flag show a height to width ration
of 10:7. The "fringe" which I said did not appear on
the flag, refers to a fringed cravat which does appear on both
illustrations.
Christopher Southworth, 10 October 2004
An interesting question arose about the precedence of Holy See
flag when displayed with other national flags. Normally, national
flags are displayed in the alphabetical order of their nations'
names. As I understand it, the Holy See is not a nation such, but
is legally equivalent to one for diplomatic and legal purposes.
Should the Holy See flag be with the "H"s in the
precedence, or at the end?
Would the answer depend on the context (secular vs. religious)?
Peter Ansoff, 17 June 2006
My understanding differs; it is a nation, the vestige of the
old Papal States, and has ambassadors to and from it, as do
Monaco, San Marino, and similar micro-states. In a display of
national flags, I would alphabetize it under V (in English).
In a religious display, as in most Catholic churches, it stands
junior to the US flag to the "sinister" of the
altar/stage, as the Israeli does in some synagogues. Catholic
churches as a rule do not display other flags.
Al Kirsch, 17 June 2006
An interesting parallel exists for the United Kingdom: foreign
Ambassadors are accredited not to the UK, but to "The Court
of St. James's"; that is, the 'seat' of sovereignty of Her
Britannic Majesty. Nonetheless these ambassadors are, to all
intents and purposes, equivalent to High Commissioners (from
former British colonies), who are indeed accredited to the UK.
Now to the Vatican: foreign ambassadors are likewise accredited
not to the Vatican City State, but to the Holy See (in Latin:
Sancta Sedes), the 'seat' (Sedes) of sovereignty of His Holiness
the Pope.
Just as the Union Jack is accorded the alphabetical precedence of
the United Kingdom, not the Court of St. James's (however
sovereign this entity might be), it makes sense to give the
Vatican flag the alphabetical precedence of the Vatican City
State, not the Holy See.
Miles Li, 17 June 2006
I was always under the impression that the official name of
the political entity was 'Vatican City State' and that its flag
should therefore be flown under the letter V. The term 'Holy
See', as I understand it, is an ecclesiastical definition rather
than a political one, and that therefore while it may be proper
and indeed expected for political entities which are or have been
traditionally Roman Catholic either in their religious identity
or in the religious composition of the majority of their
populations, or where the Roman Catholic Church has enjoyed a
special legal position, then it would be proper for such a
country to fly the Vatican flag under the letter 'H' if indeed
English was the official language (although I cannot think of
such a country in which English is the official language except
possibly the Republic of Ireland, where it is 'an' rather than
'the' official language), where the above would be applicable.
Indeed, most countries in which the Roman Catholic Church has
previously enjoyed or still enjoys a special legal status or in
which the majority of the population are Roman Catholics, the
term 'Holy See' would be given in its Latin form, 'Sancta Sedes',
and its flag would therefore be displayed unmder the leter S.
Ron Lahav, 17 June 2006
The international legal entity is the Holy See. However, the
flag is not technically the flag of the Holy See but that of the
State of Vatican City--the legal instrument defining it is the
fundamental law of the State of Vatican City, the text of which
says "The flag of the City of the Vatican consists of two
fields divided vertically.... etc."
I would say that when this flag is displayed with other national
flags, it should be alphabetized (assuming it's in an English-
speaking country) between Vanuatu and Venezuela. I'm
not sure what other context would call for its appropriate
display with other non- host-country national flags.
Joe McMillan, 17 June 2006
An ambassador is never acredited to another *country* or from
another country, even if he/she for all intents and purposes is
ambassador to that country, but to the *head of state* of that
country from the head of state of his own country. Hence, e.g.,
in Sweden, H.M. the King still formally sends out to and recieves
the ambassadors from foreign lands, even if he has no real
political role according to the Swedish constitution of 1974.
This is his duty as head of state according to international law.
Elias Granqvist, 17 June 2006
The only precedent that I can offer is the U.S. State
Department lobby which I visited some years ago. There
the flags of nations with whom the U.S. maintains diplomatic
relations, are displayed in alphabetical order. At
that time, the Vatican flag appeared under "H" for Holy
See, not "V" for Vatican City. The Vatican
flag is not displayed at the U.N. in New York, because the Holy
See is not a voting member, but rather a permanent observer with
certain member privileges.
Rev. Dr. William M. Becker, Pastor, 17 June 2006
If you look at membership/observer lists of various
international organizations, Vatican City is always listed as
Holy See (IAEA, WIPO, WTO, ILO). The only exceptions are the
Universal Postal Union and the ITU where it is listed as Vatican
City.
Vatican City is not a member of the United Nations. The
membership was offered to the pope in 1945 and 1946, but he
refused because the state/church wanted te be as neutral as
possible. The Holy See is however an observer (as territorial
entity) and is allowed to participate in all conferences and
meetings.
Maxim van Ooijen, 17 June 2006
Unconfirmed
by Marcus Schmöger, 20 August 2002
The yellow-white pennant used on motor vehicles carrying John
Paul II bears his personal arms on the white stripe (i.e., his
personal shield-of-arms supported by the tiara-keys emblem, See:
The Car Pennant of Pope Paul VI),
not the simplified tiara-keys emblem.
Rev. William M. Becker, STD, 30 June 2004
The Holy See, naturally, doesn't have an air force. As far as
I know it doesn't even have planes. However, when the pope is
taking a flight, his arms appear next to the front door of the
plane. See: <www.airliners.net/351454>,
<www.airliners.net/261961>
and <www.airliners.net/522829>.
It seems that those arms are left on the plane afterwards as a
declaration "The Pope flew in this plane" as seen on
the out-of-service ex-Viasa plane at <www.airliners.net/484315>.
Dov Gutterman, 28 June 2004
The pope travel only in "Catholic" airlines. When he
visit a "Chatolic" state he uses the local flag carrier
airline to his flight. If there are more then one flag-cattier,
he don't insult anybody and used all of them.
In his visit to Mexico, the pope JP II used Mexicana on one way
and Aero-Mexico on the other
It seems that the pope emblem is not removed afterwards and the
plane still carry it as a token and to show that this is a
"papal plane".
When visiting a non-Catholic state, the pope use Alitalia planes.
Dov Gutterman, 4 July 2007
The (larger) Vatican flags seen displayed over Jordan and
Israel during the Pope visit , appeared to be 1:2 rather than
1:1. Some of them as banners.
Santiago Dotor, Jorge Candeias and Dov
Gutterman, 21 March 2000
I see vatican flags in 1:2 ratios constantly. This has
to do with the fact that I went to Catholic Primary and Secondary
Schools, my sister went to a Catholic Primary School, and so is
my brother. Overall, the three of us have attended (or are
attending) 4 different schools. The reason for the
Vatican's flag is that, as a Catholic school, our teaching falls
under the "jurisdiction" of the Vatican. And
since Canada has the law about all flags being the same size as
the Canadian flag, the Vatican's flag is stretched to be 1:2.
Georges G. Kovari, 25 Febuary 2002
In the States the Vatican flag is seen in 2:3 and 3:5, being
made to fit with the standard sizes manufactured by US flag
makers. In our church the US and Vatican flags are 4 foot by 6
feet, i.e. 2:3.
Devereaux Cannon, 25 Febuary 2002
by António Martins-Tuválkin, 24 April 2005
In a Vatican flag-waving crowd Reuters photo, a horizontal
bicolor of yellow over white.
António Martins-Tuválkin, 24 April 2005
Such vertical bicolours (and also longitudinal bicolours of
vertically hanging banners) are not an unusual sight on churches
at least in central Europe, I guess from the Baltic to the
Adriatic sea. This especially where the horizontal bi- (and tri-)
colours are national flags, making probably a better visual
effect then if the proper VA flag would be used.
Željko Heimer, 24 April 2005
For continuation see Part II
