History of the Vatican & How It Exists

French People Arr. Rude Podcast Show Notes

S1, E16: Popes, Power & the World’s Smallest Country

In this episode of French People Arr. Rude, Sean and Brandon explain the unlikely journey that turned St. Peter’s grave into the world’s smallest yet most influential nation. Step by step, they cover Vatican City history, including persecutions, power grabs, Renaissance rebuilds, and the political deal that sealed its independence in 1929. Skim these show notes or come back for a recap later.

What We Cover in This Vatican City History Episode

Where Did the Vatican Begin?
From Persecution to Power: The Early Church
What Is the Vatican?
Who Runs the Vatican?
The Swiss Guard and Other Vatican Fun Facts

Resources Mentioned in This Vatican City History Episode

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Vatican City History & How It Exists

Where Did the Vatican Begin?

Statue of Saint Peter in St. Peter's Square, in the Vatican. — Statue of Saint Peter in St. Peter’s Square, in the Vatican.

Jesus renames the apostle Simon as Peter, declaring him the rock of the future Church (petra = rock in Latin).
Following Jesus’ crucifixion, Peter becomes a leader among early Christians.
Peter travels to Rome, where practicing Christianity was illegal at the time.
As persecution intensifies, he tries to escape but has a vision of Jesus on the Appian Way.
Choosing martyrdom, Peter returns and is crucified upside down around 64 AD.
His burial site later becomes a major pilgrimage destination and the foundation for St. Peter’s Basilica.

👉 Join our Privileged Entrance Vatican Tour with Sistine Chapel & St. Peter’s Basilica to learn the history from a licensed guide.

From Persecution to Power: The Early Church

Before Christianity became legal, followers met in homes. The shift to public worship came in the early 4th century when Emperor Constantine legalized Christianity with the Edict of Milan in 313 AD. He also ordered the construction of the first St. Peter’s Basilica on what was believed to be Peter’s burial site.

In the 8th century, a document called the Donation of Constantine gave the pope supposed authority over Rome. It was likely forged, but it worked. The pope gained real political control, and the Papal States were born.

By the 1300s, things got messy with popes in both Rome and Avignon (the “Babylonian Captivity”). Eventually, Rome regained control. When a new version of St. Peter’s Basilica was built in the 1500s, the Vatican area became the center of papal activity.

👉 Explore with fewer crowds on our Vatican at Closing Time with Sistine Chapel Tour.

What Is the Vatican, Exactly?

Vatican City is a fully independent, internationally recognized sovereign state. It became official in 1929 with the signing of the Lateran Pact between the Holy See and the Kingdom of Italy. Before that, the Pope had refused to recognize Italian unification and remained within the Vatican walls for nearly 60 years.

Today, Vatican City is the smallest country in the world—just 44 hectares (0.17 square miles). It has many features of a modern nation:

Its own license plates, postage, and passports
A train station, helipad, and pharmacy
A court system and jail
Roughly 800 appointed citizens—no one is born a citizen
A theocratic monarchy with the Pope as head of state

Intersannte Fact: Vatican City has the world’s lowest birth rate: 0%. Citizenship is granted by appointment and revoked when your role ends.

Who Really Runs the Vatican?

The Vatican is an absolute elective monarchy. The Pope is both the religious leader of the Catholic Church and the sovereign head of Vatican City. When a pope dies or resigns, a Papal Conclave of cardinals elects a new one.

The Holy See, which refers to the seat of the Church rather than the individual pope, carries out diplomatic relations and international agreements. Other governing bodies, such as the Pontifical Commission, assist in managing day-to-day operations.

Here’s a breakdown:

The Pope is both head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City.
The Holy See is the legal entity tied to the papal office and handles diplomacy for 1.3 billion Catholics worldwide.
Day-to-day governance falls to the Pontifical Commission and the Governorate, whose members the pope appoints.
The only election is the Papal Conclave, where cardinals choose a new pope.

👉 Take the stress out of planning—join our Rome in a Day Tour with Colosseum and Vatican Museums.

The Swiss Guard and Other Vatican Fun Facts

The Swiss Guard has protected the Pope since the early 1500s. To join, you must be a Swiss citizen, Catholic, unmarried, and have completed Swiss military training. Members wear traditional Renaissance-style uniforms and serve as both ceremonial and active security.

Other interesting features of the Vatican include:

Vatican Museums, home to vast art collections and religious artifacts
Secret Archives, now called the Apostolic Archives, holding centuries of documents
Relics believed to include items like Mary Magdalene’s hair, a Jewish menorah, and possibly the Holy Grail.

Interessante Fact: Some Vatican Museum spaces serve as residences for clergy and Vatican workers, making it one of the only “living museums” in the world.

Should You Visit the Vatican?

Absolutely. The Vatican holds some of the world’s most important religious, historical, and artistic landmarks. That includes the Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Basilica, and countless galleries within the Vatican Museums.

Visiting with a guide is highly recommended. The museums are vast, and much of the meaning behind the art and architecture is easy to miss without context.