Roger-Luc Chayer (Photo: Vatican – Pixabay)
With the recent death of Pope Francis, there has been extensive discussion about the statesman, the spiritual leader of Catholics around the world, his social achievements, and his reforms of both the State and the Church. This pope, as exceptional as his predecessors, distinguished himself through a much more human approach, closer to the people, leaving behind a transformed Church.
Between Francis and the Vatican
However, there is an important difference between the man that Pope Francis was and the institution of the Church — as well as the State, since they are inseparable — that he embodied. Here are some key facts to know about this unique nation:
1- Area: With an area of only 0.44 square kilometers and a population of 825 residents, the Vatican is the smallest country in the world. It is probably the only country in the world that can be walked through in less than an hour. What makes it even more fascinating is that it is located right in the heart of the city of Rome.
2- Prison System: The Vatican City is probably the only nation in the world without a prison. The country has a few cells for preventive detention. People sentenced to prison terms serve their sentences in Italian prisons, according to the provisions of the Lateran Treaty. The Vatican government covers the costs of incarceration.
3- Crime Rate: The Vatican has fewer than 1,000 official residents, yet it has the highest crime rate in the world. This doesn’t mean more crimes are committed than elsewhere, but that the number of crimes reported per capita is higher. These crimes are usually committed by the millions of tourists who flock to the city every year. The most common crimes are shoplifting, handbag theft, and pickpocketing. The Vatican’s official tourism site itself advises visitors to stay vigilant at all times.
4- Capital of Wine: It is reported that residents of the Vatican consume more wine per capita than anywhere else in the world. On average, a Vatican resident drinks about 74 liters of wine per year, twice the consumption observed in countries known for their wine, such as France and Italy.
Several reasons explain this high consumption. Residents of the Vatican tend to have communal meals, and the only supermarket in the city sells tax-free wine, which contributes to the higher consumption.
5- Protection by the Swiss Guard: 135 Swiss soldiers, known as the Pontifical Swiss Guard, are tasked with protecting the pope. They were first hired in 1506 by Pope Julius II, who needed personal protection from the Church’s enemies. They are easily recognizable by their colorful striped uniforms.
Not just anyone can join the Swiss Guard: one must be male, aged 19 to 30, at least 1.74 meters tall, Christian, and have completed basic military training.
6- ATMs in Latin: Italian is the official language of the Vatican City and is used for all official business. Italian is also the lingua franca, but the Holy See uses Latin as its official language. The Vatican is actually considered the de facto guardian of the Latin language. It is thus not surprising to learn that the ATM at the Vatican Bank offers instructions in Latin.
7- Shortest Railway in the World: The Vatican City also boasts the shortest railway in the world. The station includes two 300-meter tracks and one station: Città Vaticano. The rails and station were built during the papacy of Pope Pius XI. This railway is used for the transport of goods. No regular passenger trains run there.
8- No Acquired Nationality: The Vatican does not have a hospital, and importantly, no maternity ward. Therefore, no one can acquire Vatican citizenship by birth. It is granted only based on an appointment to a position within the service of the Holy See. Citizenship can also extend to spouses, parents, and other family members living under the same roof. Once the appointment ends, citizenship is automatically revoked.
9- Its Own Telescope: In 1981, the Vatican bought a state-of-the-art telescope, one of the largest in the world: the Vatican Advanced Technology Telescope. It is located at the top of Mount Graham in southeastern Arizona, and it is from there that the Vatican conducts its astronomical research.
10- UNESCO World Heritage: The Vatican is the only country entirely designated as a World Heritage Site. It was added in 1984. The list includes both Vatican City and extraterritorial properties in Rome, such as St. Peter’s Basilica and the Basilica of St. Mary Major.
Homophobic State: The Vatican
Despite these historical and unique feats, the Vatican hides a dark reality that it shares with some countries in East Asia or Africa, where homosexuality is severely repressed. The Vatican State persecutes individuals from the LGBTQ+ communities, despite the teachings of Pope Francis.
Vatican laws, based on Catholic doctrine, consider homosexuality to be contrary to the traditional teachings of the Church. The Vatican teaches that homosexual acts are sinful, although homosexual individuals are not condemned as people. In 2003, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (the Vatican’s doctrinal body) issued a document emphasizing that homosexual acts are morally unacceptable.
It is important to note that while the Vatican has not legislated directly on civil laws concerning homosexuality (since the Vatican City is not a place where homosexuality is openly practiced), the official position of the Church remains opposed to same-sex marriage and adoption by same-sex couples.
This means that although homosexuality as such is not criminalized in the Vatican, it is still perceived as contrary to the moral doctrine of the Catholic Church.
Past Executions of Homosexuals
In the past, the Catholic Church played a role in the persecution and execution of homosexuals, particularly during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. Homosexuality was seen as a grave sin, and the Church sometimes supported severe penalties for those accused of such acts.
During the Inquisition, accusations of homosexuality could lead to trials where individuals were sentenced to severe punishments, including the death penalty. During these periods, the Catholic Church, in collaboration with civil authorities, condemned individuals to be burned at the stake, hanged, or drowned, for practices considered to be an affront to God.
In some European countries, such as Spain and Italy, the Church had significant influence over civil laws, and homosexuality was often a crime punishable by law. People accused of homosexuality were often subjected to torture or public executions.
However, it is important to note that this persecution was more a consequence of the civil laws of the time, often influenced by the Church, and not necessarily from explicit doctrinal teachings of the Church, although the institution supported these harsh penalties.
The Vatican Has Evolved Without Apologizing
Unfortunately, and unlike many countries and governments, the Vatican has not issued an official apology to homosexuals for the historical persecutions carried out by the Catholic Church, although more recent statements suggest a willingness for reconciliation and understanding.
A true « official apology » for past persecutions, such as those carried out during the Inquisition, has not yet occurred. The Church has had, on various occasions, initiatives for reconciliation and dialogue, particularly with marginalized groups, but these efforts have not specifically addressed the persecution of homosexuals in history.
The Gay Globe Group has published a regular column for several years, particularly in its print version, covering these homophobic states that need to be known. The Vatican had never been mentioned before, but given the recent news of the pope’s death and the Catholic Church’s tendency to always talk about love, peace, and reconciliation, it seemed important to remind our readers that homophobia is still present there.
Human Rights Courts
Vatican laws do not include a civil code, it is not a member of the UN, nor a signatory of the Schengen Area, which allows the free movement of people within Europe. It is not a member of the European Union nor the International Criminal Court. It is clear, therefore, that requesting international help to regularize the situation of LGBTQ+ communities within the Church or the Vatican State is futile.
PUBLICITY
