The amateur radio station HV5PUL is active since 1997 at the Pontifical Lateran University, in the Vatican City State.
The station is activated during the special events at the University like the Academic Year Opening Day (Dies Accademicus) in October/November or the Lateran Journey at the end of April. It is also activated by IW0DJB, the station manager.
Recent DX Spots HV5PUL
IZ2LSC, I2OGV, I2RFJ, I2ZBX, IK2DJV will be active from Vatican 1 - 4 June 2009 as HV5PUL.
They are will be active on HF + 6m CW, SSB, RTTY.
QSL via: IW0DJB direct.
Ads for direct QSL:
LUCA DELLA GIOVAMPAOLA, VIA CREMERA, 11, 00198, ROMA, Italy.
Vatican
Vatican City, a tiny country but powerful in terms of its significance in the Christian Catholic world, has specific characteristics related to its origins and purpose. Territorially, Vatican City is limited to a single city: it is the smallest country on the planet.
Pontifical Lateran University, in the Vatican City State. Author - F. Fppolloni.
A bit of history
It is noteworthy that the name of the country, traditionally translated as “the Pope's palace,” is very old, dating back thousands of years!
In Italian, the name of the state is Stato della Città del Vaticano.
The new country was the fruitful result of the so-called Lateran Accords, which entered the country's national history as its first page. In 1929, an agreement was reached between Italy and the Holy See, signed by Italian leader Mussolini.
Having acquired the status of a city-state, the Vatican also received its name, taken from the ancient Latin name for the hill on the right bank of the Tiber River in northwestern Rome—the Vatican Hill.
The Romans, who named the hill “Vatican,” were guided by ancient beliefs and the Etruscan language, remnants of a civilization that existed more than a thousand years before Christ and had a powerful influence on Roman culture.
According to legends circulating among the ancient Romans, the ancient Etruscan city of “Vaticum” was home to great Etruscan oracles, whose amazing prophecies, named after the city, were called “vaticinations.”
The Vatican Hill itself was considered a sacred place in ancient times, and no one was allowed to settle there: the oracles only announced their predictions on the Hill, and circus performances organized by the Roman emperor Claudius were held there.
The hill became inhabited in 326 AD with the arrival of Christianity: in that year, the Basilica of Constantine was built on the supposed tomb of Peter, the first bishop of Rome, after which the first residential buildings began to be built on the hill.
Vatican city. Author - Japo García.
A state unlike any other: unique features
The small territory of Vatican City, with a total border length of just 3.2 kilometers, is nestled in the heart of Italy, in its capital city of Rome.
Thus, the Vatican is a striking example of an enclave—a country whose territory is entirely “immersed” in the territory of another, larger country.
The microstate has a special relationship with Italy: the two countries have agreed to peaceful coexistence, with the Vatican retaining its sovereignty and independence, but delegating some administrative powers to Italy.
In the official language of international law, the Vatican is the sovereign territory of the Holy See, which is the collective name for the Pope and the Roman Curia.
However, the Vatican and the Papal See are not synonymous! For example, foreign diplomats are accredited directly to the Holy See, not to the Vatican, because the Holy See is a subject in the form of clergy and theological institutions, while the Vatican is a sovereign territory on which the Papal See is located and functions.
Thus, the main purpose of this country is to be the official residence of the highest clergy of the Roman Catholic Church.
Who governs the Vatican
Since the form of government of this microstate is a pronounced theocracy, all power is concentrated not in the president or the king, but in the Pope, who is headed by the Roman Curia.
The Pope is the embodiment of all three branches of government:
- legislative;
- judicial;
- executive (headed by the Secretary of State).
The Pope's term of office is unlimited, until his death or personal resignation.
The Pope is elected not by the population of the Vatican, but by the highest clergy of the Catholic Church—the cardinals.
While the old Pope is dead or has abdicated (retired), his functions, with certain restrictions, are traditionally entrusted to the Camerlengo, who governs the Vatican until the investiture (papal enthronement) of the new Pope.
Vatican city. Author - Enes Biga.
International activities of the smallest country in the world
The Vatican's functions, focusing on the spiritual component of Catholicism, are also manifested in peacekeeping activities aimed at reducing military conflicts on the world stage.
Since 1964, the Vatican has been an active observer in an international organization dedicated to promoting peace and security on the planet, namely the United Nations, with which the Vatican has been cooperating for 61 years.
Ten years ago, the city-state became a member of an international criminal police organization, fighting general crime without religious undertones (politics, religion, militarism, and race are excluded from Interpol's methods by its charter).
What language to speak
Despite the fact that the Holy See, like the Catholic Church itself, uses its own official language, Latin, Italian is spoken on the streets of the Vatican: it is also the official language of the “state within a state.”
The specifics of a tiny theocratic country
Law enforcement agencies of Italy are responsible for maintaining law and order in the Vatican.
At the same time, the city itself has the right to close its borders to both ordinary citizens and Italian police forces for the purpose of religious ceremonies.
No one has been born in the state since 1983, but it still has some of the greatest works of art:
- museums, especially the Sistine Chapel;
- St. Peter's Basilica;
- the Vatican Library.
How the population lives
Citizens have citizenship acquired by virtue of their service to the Holy See, which is confirmed by a special passport issued by the Secretariat of State.
According to statistics, less than 5% of the 600 citizens of the Vatican are lay people, while the rest are members of the clergy or guards.
The Vatican's non-commercial economy is traditionally based on two components:
- donations collected from Catholics around the world;
- income from tourism, museum visits, and the sale of goods bearing symbols (stamps, special coins, souvenirs).
The currency in circulation in the country is regulated by the Vatican's own bank, called the “Institute for Religious Works.”
Considering the modest size of the Vatican, its finances are quite respectable, estimated at more than three hundred million dollars.
