But just over 200 years ago, most of its current territory was a shambolic mess — part of the Holy Roman ... empire's territory was folded into a brief "Confederation of the Rhine" French puppet ...

The Vatican, headquarters of the Catholic Church, is the smallest state ... Holy See, which is a sovereign juridical entity under international law. The Church itself is governed by the Roman ...

It became an independent state in February 1929, as defined by the Lateran Treaty. Vatican City is deemed the smallest country ... ruler of Vatican City and the Holy See, which is the government ...

The Vatican, headquarters of the Catholic Church, is the smallest state ... Holy See, which is a sovereign juridical entity under international law. The Church itself is governed by the Roman ...

The state's government is the Holy See, which is a sovereign juridical entity under international law. The Church itself is governed by the Roman Curia, which is made up of the Secretariat of ...