No more automatic Vatican citizenship for every Vatican resident
(March 01, 2011) Pope Benedict XVI signed a new law last week by which one can no
longer acquire Vatican citizenship automatically by virtue of residence in Vatican
City. Fr. Ciro Benedettini, the vice director of the Holy See’s Press Office explained
that the Pope signed a new law on Feb. 22, by which Vatican citizenship is granted
only to cardinals residing outside the Vatican walls or in Rome, to Holy See diplomats
and to those who reside in Vatican City holding some post or are in service. A person
holding an office or who is in service and has the permission to reside in Vatican
City, now needs to apply for Vatican citizenship, without acquiring it automatically.
Such a resident’s spouse and children authorized to live with him/her inside the Vatican
are also eligible. With an area of 0.44 sqkm, Vatican City is the world’s smallest
sovereign state inside Rome city, where there are only 444 residents, including Vatican
citizens. Some of Rome’s sprawling public parks such as Villa Doria Pamphilj and
Villa Ada are far larger than Vatican City.