Vatican City Photos

Pope John Paul II's Easter Greetings
Photograph by James L. Stanfield
Shepherd of the world's largest communion, Pope John Paul II delivers Easter greetings in 56 languages from the central loggia of St. Peter's Basilica.
—From the National Geographic book Inside the Vatican, 1991
The Trappings of Pope Pius XII
Photograph by James L. Stanfield
Gilded and jeweled trappings of Pope Pius XII, on display in the Vatican's Liturgical Treasury, attest to the pageantry of the papacy.
—From the National Geographic book Inside the Vatican, 1991
Inside St. Peter's Basilica
Photograph by James L. Stanfield
Inside St. Peter's Basilica candidates for priesthood from 22 countries lie prostrate in humility before the high altar as they take their vows during an ordination Mass celebrated by Pope John Paul II.
—From the National Geographic book Inside the Vatican, 1991
The Vatican From Above
Photograph by James L. Stanfield
Dominated by St. Peter's Basilica and its embracing colonnade, Vatican City covers 108.7 acres [44 hectares] on a site known to ancient Romans as Mons Vaticanus. Popes lost political power over Rome and the surrounding Papal States with the unification of Italy (1861-70) but remained in residence as self-styled ‘prisoners of the Vatican.’ Mussolini's government recognized Vatican City as an independent state in the 1929 Lateran Treaty. Operating its own bank, post office, pharmacy, and commissary, Vatican City employs nearly 2,000 people, mostly lay workers from Rome, and counts about 300 residents.
—From the National Geographic book Inside the Vatican, 1991
Repair of Raphael Tapestry
Photograph by James L. Stanfield
Drawing on a stock of more than 6,000 colors of thread, a nun repairs a tapestry designed by Raphael, in which Peter receives the keys to the church from Christ.
—From the National Geographic book Inside the Vatican, 1991