vatican city state was founded following the signing of the lateran pacts between the holy see and italy on february 11th 1929 . these were ratified on june 7th 1929 . its nature as a sovereign state distinct from the holy see is universally recognized under international law ... presidency structure of the governorate general information on vatican city state history philatelic and numismatic office of vatican city telephone service vatican post vatican pharmacy vatican film library vatican library vatican publishing house vatican observatory vatican gardens a walk through the vatican gardens . saint peter s basilica the most visited basilica in the world and its artistic treasures . castel gandolfo pontifical estates of castel gandolfo the papal summer residence . webcam dome of st. peter s viewed from the vatican gardens . st. peter s square viewed from the colonnades . st. peter s square and the city of rome viewed from the dome of st. peter s. holy john paul ii s tomb in the grottoes of st. peter s basilica . governorate palace viewed from the dome of st. peter s. castel gandolfo vatican media pontifical council for social communications osservatore romano holy see press office vatican information service vatican television centre vatican radio official site of the holy see www.news.va jubilee of mercy philatelic and numismatic office announcement online stamps catalogues streaming video vatican museums the vatican museums official web site l osservatore romano the weekly edition of the newspaper in english vatican city state weather station meteorological data of vatican city state the holy see vatican radio vatican museums online osservatore romano map of the site disclaimer faq practical information staff 2007 16 uffici di presidenza s.c.v.