Vatican City is an elective absolute monarchy and the sovereign territorial base of the Holy See. Pope Leo XIV serves as Pope and Sovereign of Vatican City, combining spiritual leadership of the Roman Catholic Church with the highest governing authority of the state.
Vatican City is governed as an elective absolute monarchy in which the pope holds supreme legislative, executive and judicial authority. Pope Leo XIV serves as Pope and Sovereign of Vatican City, and the institutions of the Holy See carry out much of the day-to-day administration of the state.
Its governmental structure differs sharply from that of a conventional nation-state: there is no national party system or general electorate for choosing the head of state. The pope is elected by the College of Cardinals, while appointed commissions, offices and tribunals administer Vatican City under canon law and state law.
Legislative authority is exercised in the pope’s name through the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State, while executive functions are carried out principally through the Governorate. The Vatican maintains its own legal system, administrative offices, security services and courts, while the Holy See handles the broader diplomatic and ecclesiastical affairs of the Catholic Church. Although Vatican City is geographically tiny, its government supports institutions with global religious, cultural and diplomatic influence.
