Welcome to Vatican City
Vatican City, a city-state surrounded by Rome, Italy, is the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church. It’s home to the Pope and a trove of iconic art and architecture. Its Vatican Museums house ancient Roman sculptures such as the famed “Laocoön and His Sons” as well as Renaissance frescoes in the Raphael Rooms and the Sistine Chapel, famous for Michelangelo’s ceiling.
Vatican City is an independent sovereign state and the world’s smallest fully independent nation-state.
No photos can be taken inside the Sistine Chapel.
What does the Pope do all day as the head of the Roman Catholic Church?
The Pope follows a strict daily routine that starts early with private prayer and moves into church administration, meetings, and public events.
Morning Routine
- Waking up: The Pope wakes up early, usually around 4:30 AM.
- Prayer and Mass: He spends the first few hours in silent prayer, meditation, and celebrating Mass.
- Breakfast: He eats a light breakfast and reads the news.
Work and Meetings
- Official duties: He acts as the leader of the Catholic Church and head of Vatican City.
- Meetings: He meets with cardinals, bishops, and world leaders to discuss church policies and world events.
- Paperwork: He reads documents, answers letters, and signs important papers.
Afternoon and Evening
- Rest: He takes a short lunch break and rests or takes a brief nap.
- More work: He finishes up remaining meetings and writes speeches or homilies.
- Evening prayer: He walks in the Vatican gardens, prays the rosary, and attends evening prayer.
- Sleeping: He goes to bed around 10:00 PM to prepare for the next early morning.
Another view of Saint Peter's Basilica. The Basilica was constructed between 1506 and 1626, replacing an older church built by Empreror Constantine.
