---- Vatican City, officially the State of Vatican City (Italian: Stato della Cittą del Vaticano), is the smallest independent state in the world. The territory of this country is completely enclosed by the city of Rome,
---- making it an enclave within Italy. Vatican City is represented in international law by the Holy See and houses the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church. The head of state of Vatican City is the Pope, who has his
---- official residence in the Apostolic Palace. During the sede vacante, the popeless period after the death (or abdication) of the reigning pope, current affairs are taken care of by the Camerlengo.
---- The dwarf state was created in 1929 as a result of the Lateran Treaty, which was signed by Pope Pius XI and Benito Mussolini. It was emphatically stated that it is a newly created state. Formally, therefore,
---- it cannot be regarded as a continuation or revival of the Papal State.