Flag of Vatican City

Vatican City State
Flag of Vatican City, version since 2023
UseNational flag Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flagSmall vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flagReverse side is mirror image of obverse side
Adopted7 June 1929; 95 years ago (1929-06-07)
DesignA vertical bicolour of yellow and white, charged with the coat of arms centred on the white portion

The national flag of Vatican City was adopted in 1929, the year Pope Pius XI signed the Lateran Treaty with Italy, creating the new independent state of Vatican City.

The flag is a vertical bicolour of yellow and white, with the white half charged with the coat of arms of Vatican City (a papal tiara and the crossed keys of Saint Peter). It was modeled after the 1808 flag of the Papal States, a yellow-and-white bicolour defaced with the tiara and keys in the centre. It is one of only two national flags that use a 1:1 aspect ratio, along with the flag of Switzerland.[1]

The flag of Vatican City is also referred as flag of the Holy See.[2] The Holy See, which governs Vatican City, has ecclesiastical jurisdiction over the worldwide Catholic Church. As a result, the flag is also a symbol of Catholic faith or identity, and is sometimes displayed at Catholic churches.[3][4][5][6]

  1. ^ "Flag of the Vatican City". flaginstitute.org. Retrieved 2024-05-08.
  2. ^ "United Nations to Raise Holy See Flag on September 25". En.radiovaticana.va. Archived from the original on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2015-10-20.
  3. ^ CNA. "Wikipedia had the wrong Vatican City flag for years. Now incorrect flags are everywhere". Catholic News Agency. Retrieved 2024-05-22.
  4. ^ CNA. "American flag in the sanctuary". Catholic News Agency. Retrieved 2024-05-22.
  5. ^ "The Vatican Flag". St. Cletus Catholic Church. 13 January 2023.
  6. ^ "The Flag of Vatican City". mnflag.tripod.com. Retrieved 2024-05-22. Roman Catholics throughout the world often use the Vatican flag to express Catholic identity at churches, educational institutions, and other establishments.