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[[Image:Vatican2.jpg|right|frame]]

While all [[episcopal]] sees can be referred to as holy, the expression the ''Holy See'' (without further specification) is normally used in international relations (as well as in the canon law of the Catholic Church [http://www.intratext.com/IXT/ENG0017/_P19.HTM Code of Canon Law, canon 361], [http://www.intratext.com/IXT/LAT0758/_P7.HTM Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches, canon 48] to refer to the central government of the [[Catholic Church]], headed by the Bishop of Rome, commonly called the [[Pope]]. The Holy See should not be confused with the [[Vatican City]], which came into existence only in 1929, while the Holy See dates back to early Christian times. Ambassadors are officially accredited not to the Vatican City State but to "the Holy See", and papal representatives to states and international organizations are recognized as representing the Holy See, not the '''Vatican''' City State.  

While all [[episcopal]] sees can be referred to as holy, the expression the ''Holy See'' (without further specification) is normally used in international relations (as well as in the canon law of the Catholic Church [https://www.intratext.com/IXT/ENG0017/_P19.HTM Code of Canon Law, canon 361], [https://www.intratext.com/IXT/LAT0758/_P7.HTM Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches, canon 48] to refer to the central government of the [[Catholic Church]], headed by the Bishop of Rome, commonly called the [[Pope]]. The Holy See should not be confused with the [[Vatican City]], which came into existence only in 1929, while the Holy See dates back to early Christian times. Ambassadors are officially accredited not to the Vatican City State but to "the Holy See", and papal representatives to states and international organizations are recognized as representing the Holy See, not the '''Vatican''' City State.  

==Organization==

==Organization==

== Diplomacy ==

== Diplomacy ==

Since medieval times the episcopal see of Rome has been recognized as a [[sovereignty|sovereign]] entity. The Holy See (not the [[Vatican City|State of Vatican City]]) maintains formal diplomatic relations with 176 sovereign states,[http://www.vatican.va/news_services/press/documentazione/documents/corpo-diplomatico_index_en.html Holy See Press Office] the [[European Union]], and the [[Sovereign Military Order of Malta]]; 69 of the diplomatic missions accredited to the Holy See are situated in Rome, though those countries then have two embassies in the same city, since, by agreement between the Holy See and Italy, the same person cannot be accredited simultaneously to both. Dual accreditation with a country other than Italy is acceptable, whether the mission is situated in Rome or elsewhere. The Holy See also has relations of a special nature with Russia (Mission with an Ambassador) and the Palestine Liberation Organization (Office with a Director). The Holy See maintains 179 permanent diplomatic missions abroad, of which 73 are non-residential, so that it has in all 106 concrete missions, some of which are accredited not only to the country in which they are situated, but also to one or more other countries or international organizations. The diplomatic activities of the Holy See are directed by the Secretariat of State (headed by the Cardinal Secretary of State), through the Section for Relations with States. There are 17 internationally-recognized states with which the Holy See does not have relations. Nine are Islamic (Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Brunei, Comoros, Malaysia, the Maldives, Mauritania, Oman, and Somalia), four are communist (the People's Republic of China, North Korea, Laos, and Vietnam), and the remaining four are Bhutan, Botswana, Burma, and Tuvalu.[http://chiesa.espresso.repubblica.it/articolo/162301?eng=y]

Since medieval times the episcopal see of Rome has been recognized as a [[sovereignty|sovereign]] entity. The Holy See (not the [[Vatican City|State of Vatican City]]) maintains formal diplomatic relations with 176 sovereign states,[https://www.vatican.va/news_services/press/documentazione/documents/corpo-diplomatico_index_en.html Holy See Press Office] the [[European Union]], and the [[Sovereign Military Order of Malta]]; 69 of the diplomatic missions accredited to the Holy See are situated in Rome, though those countries then have two embassies in the same city, since, by agreement between the Holy See and Italy, the same person cannot be accredited simultaneously to both. Dual accreditation with a country other than Italy is acceptable, whether the mission is situated in Rome or elsewhere. The Holy See also has relations of a special nature with Russia (Mission with an Ambassador) and the Palestine Liberation Organization (Office with a Director). The Holy See maintains 179 permanent diplomatic missions abroad, of which 73 are non-residential, so that it has in all 106 concrete missions, some of which are accredited not only to the country in which they are situated, but also to one or more other countries or international organizations. The diplomatic activities of the Holy See are directed by the Secretariat of State (headed by the Cardinal Secretary of State), through the Section for Relations with States. There are 17 internationally-recognized states with which the Holy See does not have relations. Nine are Islamic (Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Brunei, Comoros, Malaysia, the Maldives, Mauritania, Oman, and Somalia), four are communist (the People's Republic of China, North Korea, Laos, and Vietnam), and the remaining four are Bhutan, Botswana, Burma, and Tuvalu.[https://chiesa.espresso.repubblica.it/articolo/162301?eng=y]

The Holy See has the oldest continuous diplomatic service in the world, tracing its origins to at least as far back as 325 with its original legation to the [[First Council of Nicaea]].

The Holy See has the oldest continuous diplomatic service in the world, tracing its origins to at least as far back as 325 with its original legation to the [[First Council of Nicaea]].

==Relationship with the Vatican City and other territories==

==Relationship with the Vatican City and other territories==

Although the Holy See is closely associated with the [[Vatican City]], the independent territory over which the Holy See is [[Sovereignty|sovereign]], the two entities are separate and distinct. After the Italian takeover of the [[Papal States]] in 1870, the Holy See had no territorial sovereignty. In spite of some uncertainty among jurists as to whether it could continue to act as an independent personality in international matters, the Holy See continued in fact to exercise the right to send and receive diplomatic representatives, maintaining relations with states that included the major powers of Russia, Prussia and Austria-Hungary. Where, in accordance with the decision of the 1815 Congress of Vienna, the Nuncio was not only a member of the Diplomatic Corps but its Dean, this arrangement continued to be accepted by the other ambassadors. In the course of the 59 years during which the Holy See held no territorial sovereignty, the number of states that had diplomatic relations with it, which had been reduced to 16, actually increased to 29.[http://www.30giorni.it/it/articolo.asp?id=10264 Lecture by Archbishop Giovanni Lajolo, 16 February 2006]

Although the Holy See is closely associated with the [[Vatican City]], the independent territory over which the Holy See is [[Sovereignty|sovereign]], the two entities are separate and distinct. After the Italian takeover of the [[Papal States]] in 1870, the Holy See had no territorial sovereignty. In spite of some uncertainty among jurists as to whether it could continue to act as an independent personality in international matters, the Holy See continued in fact to exercise the right to send and receive diplomatic representatives, maintaining relations with states that included the major powers of Russia, Prussia and Austria-Hungary. Where, in accordance with the decision of the 1815 Congress of Vienna, the Nuncio was not only a member of the Diplomatic Corps but its Dean, this arrangement continued to be accepted by the other ambassadors. In the course of the 59 years during which the Holy See held no territorial sovereignty, the number of states that had diplomatic relations with it, which had been reduced to 16, actually increased to 29.[https://www.30giorni.it/it/articolo.asp?id=10264 Lecture by Archbishop Giovanni Lajolo, 16 February 2006]

The State of the Vatican City was created by the [[Lateran Treaty]] in 1929 to “ensure the absolute and visible independence of the Holy See” and “to guarantee to it an indisputable sovereignty in international affairs” (quotations from the treaty). Archbishop Jean-Louis Tauran, the Holy See's former Secretary for Relations with States, said that the Vatican City is a “minuscule support-state that guarantees the spiritual freedom of the Pope with the minimum territory”. [http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/secretariat_state/documents/rc_seg-st_doc_20020422_tauran_en.html Lecture by Archbishop Jean-Louis Tauran, 22 April 2002]

The State of the Vatican City was created by the [[Lateran Treaty]] in 1929 to “ensure the absolute and visible independence of the Holy See” and “to guarantee to it an indisputable sovereignty in international affairs” (quotations from the treaty). Archbishop Jean-Louis Tauran, the Holy See's former Secretary for Relations with States, said that the Vatican City is a “minuscule support-state that guarantees the spiritual freedom of the Pope with the minimum territory”. [https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/secretariat_state/documents/rc_seg-st_doc_20020422_tauran_en.html Lecture by Archbishop Jean-Louis Tauran, 22 April 2002]

The Holy See, not the Vatican City, maintains diplomatic relations with states and participates in international organizations.[http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/secretariat_state/documents/rc_seg-st_20010123_holy-see-relations_en.html Bilateral and Multilateral Relations of the Holy See] Foreign embassies are accredited to the Holy See, not to the Vatican City, and it is the Holy See that establishes treaties and concordats with other sovereign entities. When necessary, the Holy See will enter a treaty on behalf of the Vatican City.

The Holy See, not the Vatican City, maintains diplomatic relations with states and participates in international organizations.[https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/secretariat_state/documents/rc_seg-st_20010123_holy-see-relations_en.html Bilateral and Multilateral Relations of the Holy See] Foreign embassies are accredited to the Holy See, not to the Vatican City, and it is the Holy See that establishes treaties and concordats with other sovereign entities. When necessary, the Holy See will enter a treaty on behalf of the Vatican City.

Under the terms of the Lateran Treaty, the Holy See has extraterritorial authority over 23 sites in Rome and five Italian sites outside of Rome, including the Pontifical Palace at Castel Gandolfo. The same authority is extended under international [[law]] over the Apostolic Nunciature]of the Holy See in a foreign country.

Under the terms of the Lateran Treaty, the Holy See has extraterritorial authority over 23 sites in Rome and five Italian sites outside of Rome, including the Pontifical Palace at Castel Gandolfo. The same authority is extended under international [[law]] over the Apostolic Nunciature]of the Holy See in a foreign country.