Is Vatican City a sovereign country?

[MoonRiver]

Seems like I've heard this is true. If so, then whoever is Pope really is a theocratic monarch. I wonder if this is *'s deluded roll model (not that he could even vaguely mimic the Pope's decency and humanity).
:shrug:

edited to clarify my meaning

[glaeken777]

1. one big difference...

The Pope had integrity and practiced what he preached.

Bush's head would implode if he even contemplated it.

[MoonRiver]

2. Well, of course. But * doesn't think he's a slimy piece of caca.

I really think he believes himself to be "holy".

[glaeken777]

11. Bush is holy alright...

Two holes for his eyes...
Two holes for his ears...
Two holes for his nose...
One big hole for his mouth.

Yep. He's holy.

[smirkymonkey]

13. Don't forget the biggest one - his ass

[MichiganVote]

3. Yes. And role model for Bush? Hardly.

Bush has cost the US far more money.

[pinto]

4. Yes. The Pope is the head of state for the small Vatican City, which

is an independent state, as well as the head of the Catholic Church.

[mmonk]

5. Yes

and no, bush doesn't use role models, God talks directly to him, remember?

[adwon]

6. This scares me a little

I just had this mental picture of W going to the Vatican and telling the cardinals that he thinks he's up for the job.

[loudsue]

9. Just like he kept trying to get people to nominate him for the Nobel Peace

Prize, I'm sure shrub sees another honor he thinks should be bestowed on him...Pope Pretzel...I can just see it now.

:kick:

[adwon]

10. He'd be the first to have his name chosen for him

Pope Simian. He'd probably take it as a compliment.

[globalvillage]

7. Yes, but...

Yes. The Vatican is a theocracy, but the difference, I believe, is that the Vatican was founded as a theocracy, with the specific intent of a theocratic government, and the US was not, despite the current administration.

[MoonRiver]

8. But since when have our founding fathers' intents influenced the thugs?

They probably can't pull it off, but I wouldn't put it past them to try.

[Yupster]

12. Yes, the Vatican is an independent nation

Until the mid 1800's, the Vatican was a nation with a pretty decent amount of geography throughout central Italy.

In the Italian Civil War in the mid 1800's, Garribaldi defeated the rival Italian states including the Vatican in war, and united them under his king's rule, which was an eventual united Italy.

The compromise position was to leave a tiny enclave independent for the Pope rather than have his nation "conquered" or "dissolved."

It's been a mini city-sized nation ever since.

[MoonRiver]

16. That is fascinating.

Can you recommend a book which discusses the history of Vatican City?

[Yupster]

17. sorry - no

Just an old history teacher remembering stuff.

Here's a map that shows the "Papal States" at their height in the 12th Century.

http://www.ao.net/~fmoeller/map7.htm

The map was pretty stable until Napolean conquered most of the land. It was restored by the Congress of Vienna though.

Then in 1870, it was conquered for good.

[MoonRiver]

18. Well, thanks for the info anyway. What an odd situation.

But considering the various degrees of persecution against one religion or another, it was a very practical move on the part of Catholicism.

[fnottr]

14. it is....

but only about 1000 people live there, and all of them are church officials in some way or another.

[UTUSN]

15. As "Sovereign" as Iraq Was n/t