Area	Population	Religion	Language	Literacy	Life Exp.
	0 mi2	1,000	Roman Catholic	Italian, Latin	NA	NA
From this state within the city of Rome, the Pope presides over a billion Roman Catholics. The Lateran Treaty between Italy and the Holy See created an independent Vatican City in 1929. The Holy See maintains diplomatic relations with more than 150 countries; issues passports, coins, and stamps; has a radio station and a publishing house; and billets a force of Swiss Guards. John Paul II, the first non-Italian Pope in 455 years, was elected in 1978.