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Almost all of Vatican City's little more than 800 citizens either live inside the Vatican's walls or serve in the Holy See's diplomatic corps in embassies (called "nunciatures"; a papal ambassador is a "nuncio") around the world. The Vatican citizenry consists almost entirely of two groups: clergy working as officials of the Vatican as a state or of the Catholic Church; and the Swiss Guard. Most of the 3,000 lay workers who comprise the majority of the Vatican work force reside outside the Vatican and are citizens of Italy, while a few are citizens of other nations. As a result, all of the City's actual citizens are Catholic. Catholicism is the state religion and all the places of worship inside Vatican City are Catholic. |
Nun praying in St. Peter's cathedral in Vatican City | 
Colonnade on St. Peter's square in Vatican City | 
Apostle overlooking Vatican City from St. Peter's cathedral |
A yellow window in St. Peter's cathedral featuring the Holy Spirit as a dove surrounded by 12 rays, symbolising the apostles | 
St. Peter's square and cathedral in Vatican City in the early evening | 
View over St. Peter's square from the cathedral |
Cupola of St. Peter's cathedral in Vatican City | 
Detail from St. Peter's cathedral | 
Cupola of St. Peter's cathedral designed by Michelangelo |
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