When it comes to the Vatican, people are no strangers to it. As the seat of the Holy See, the Vatican is the smallest country in the world, but it has a significant global position. Located in the northwestern corner of Italy, this land has been the subject of a centuries-long battle between Italy and the Holy See. For this reason, the past popes were also called "prisoners of the Vatican". Next, let's take a look.
The history of the Vatican dates back to the fourth century AD, when Christianity became the state religion of Rome. Constantine I, as the Roman emperor, built a church in honor of St. Peter, the most important disciple of Jesus, which later became an important place of worship for the Church and established the historical status of the Vatican. With the development and spread of ** religion, its influence gradually reached its peak in Europe.
Peping consecrates the soil
With the fall of the Roman Empire, there were more than a dozen countries in Europe, but the authority of Christianity or Catholicism was not affected. On the contrary, it was accompanied by an increase in unrest, gradually strengthening its influence in the secular sphere. In the 8th century A.D., the Frankish kingdom, now France, had lost its power, and Pepin the Short, the palace minister, was in de facto control.
Pepin had always wanted to be crowned king of the Franks, but he had no excuse to convince the world. At this time, the Pope approached Pepin's sight. Pepin also thinks that since God has agreed to this, then who can object?So, Pepin took the initiative to show favor to the Pope, and told the Pope from the side that the entire power of the Franks was in his own hands, and the king was just a puppet. When the Pope heard this, in order to befriend Pepin, he told him that whoever was working for the Franks should be the master of the Franks. Because of the interests, the two hit it off.
The Pope then crowned Pepin himself, making him King of France. This event marked the close connection between the pope and the secular power, and also laid the groundwork for the later struggle between church and royal power.
As the relationship between interests deepened, Pepin reached an agreement with the Pope. The Pope declared that only the Pepin family could become kings of the Franks. No one else or a member of another family can become a king of the Franks, and those who violate it will be excommunicated. Pepin promised the Pope to dedicate Rome to the Holy See for his seizure of Rome from Italy.
Pepin then led his army south twice, conquered the Italian region and kept his promise, dedicating the twenty-two cities he conquered to the Church, and thus the Papal States were formed.
Prisoner of the Vatican
In the 19th century, European nationalism was like a spring breeze, and the Italians embarked on the road to unification. Most of the Papal States were recovered by Italy, except for Vatican City, an isolated island, which stood in the middle of Italian territory. Because of the Pope, the Italians did not dare to attack Vatican City.
As the proverb goes, religion is deeply rooted in the lives of Europeans, and the Pope is undoubtedly above the world. Attacking the Papal States may only result in excommunication, but if you accidentally hurt the Pope, it will be like using force against the entire Catholic jurisprudence, and you will inevitably be excommunicated. Therefore, the Italians had only the option of blockading the Vatican and regularly providing supplies of life.
They promised the Pope that he could come and go as he pleased. However, the Pope feared that as soon as he walked on the front foot, the Vatican on the back foot would be occupied by Italy. Therefore, successive popes have made it a rule that no pope should leave the Vatican. This rule has been passed down to five popes, who even call themselves "prisoners of the Vatican".
It was not until Mussolini came to power that he signed the Lateran Treaty with the Pope, recognizing the Vatican as a sovereign state. Since then, the Vatican, a state within a state, has been born.