Which is the Smallest Country in the World?

            Have you ever thought which the smallest country in the world is? Let us first understand what exactly ‘country’ means. The word country means a territory with a fixed boundary and a government of its own. Every county has its own flag and administrative system. According to this definition, Vatican is the smallest country in the world.

Vatican City

            Vatican is a country having the pope’s official home. The pope is the spiritual leader of the catholic Christians. The Vatican is situated in the centre of Rome the capital of Italy. It is completely under the control of the pope. The country has its own flag. It also has its own independent postal system, railway station, telephones and broadcasting arrangements. You will be surprised to know that the total area of this country is only 0.45 square kilometers. Its population is only about 700 people. Even though this country does not have an independent source of income, it manages its affairs well from the contributions made by Catholics all over the world. In this country, the pope’s residence is fascinating palace with a beautiful garden, a library and a museum. Vatican City maintains diplomatic relations with other countries of the world. It has the worlds largest church called St. Peter’s Church.

            Do you know the story f the formation of Vatican? It is indeed very interesting. For hundreds of years in the past, ital has bee the centre of activities for the catholic Christians. For a long time, the pope had political control over a larger territory in central Italy. In 1859, this part was known was 16000 square miles. In 1870, Rome was made the national capital of Italy and the pope’s territory was merged into the Italian kingdom without his consent. As a result, the relations between the king and the pope became strained. These differences ended in 1929 with a settlement between the Italian government and the pope, as a result of which Vatican was recognized as an independent and sovereign state. Today, Vatican has its own police, and its own stamps and newspapers.