Extraterritorial properties of the Holy See

Sign indicating the extraterritorial status at the door of the Lateran Palace.

Archbasilica of St. John Lateran, cathedral of the diocese of Rome.

The extraterritorial properties of the Holy See (Italian: Zone extraterritoriali della Santa Sede) are buildings and areas within and near the city of Rome which, although not part of the territory of Vatican City, are privileged under international law.^[1]

The Lateran Treaty also transferred to the Holy See several buildings and areas within and outside Rome. Some of these enjoy special status under international law and are subject to restricted access, while others, without restricted access, are subject to the prohibition of expropriation and tax exemptions. The rights holder is the Holy See as an independent subject of international law, not Vatican City.^[2]^[3]

Overview

The Lateran Treaty, concluded in 1929 between the Kingdom of Italy and the Holy See, defines the properties which, despite being part of Italian territory, enjoy immunities recognized by international law for the residences of diplomatic representatives of foreign states.

The wording is consistent with international law and equates the zones with the protection of ambassadorial residences. Italian jurisdiction continues to exist over the properties; however, the applicability of Italian measures in the areas mentioned in Annex II of the Reconciliation Treaty is only possible to a limited extent due to the general ban on entry by the Italian authorities.

Property management

Public order in the extraterritorial possessions is the responsibility of the Vatican Gendarmerie. The administration of part of the territory and the former summer residence at Castel Gandolfo is the responsibility of an independent department of the Governorate of Vatican City, the Directorate of Papal Villas.

The properties have been integrated into the Vatican postal and telecommunications system. The total area of the extraterritorial possessions significantly exceeds the area of Vatican City.

Territories in Rome

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The following areas and buildings within Rome have extraterritorial status:

Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran (Arcibasilica di San Giovanni in Laterano)^[4]
Basilica of Saint Mary Major (Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore)
Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls (Basilica di San Paolo fuori le Mura) (the complex includes also the Benedictine monastery, the Pontifical Oratory of San Paolo and the Pontifical Beda College)
Lateran Palace, Lateran University, the Scala Sancta and adjoining buildings
Palace of the Holy Office (home of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith) in the Piazza del Sant'Uffizio and adjacent to the Basilica of St. Peter
Palazzo di Propaganda Fide (home of the former Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples) in the Piazza di Spagna
Palazzo dei Convertendi (home of the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches), formerly in Piazza Scossacavalli, now in Via della Conciliazione
Paul VI Audience Hall (partially; the rostrum with the papal throne however, is part of Vatican territory)
Campo Santo Teutonico
General Curia of the Order of Saint Augustine (including the Collegio Sta. Monica and the Pontifical Augustinian Patristic Institute)
Gianicolo Hill area properties, namely the Pontifical Urban University, the Pontifical North American College, the Ukrainian Pontifical College of Saint Josaphat, the Romanian Pontifical College and the Bambino Gesù Hospital
Jesuit Curia Complex
Palazzo San Callisto (Palace of St Callixtus) – home of the former Pontifical Council Cor Unum
Palazzo Maffei Marescotti (the Palace of the Vicariate) in Via della Pigna off the Corso Vittorio Emanuele II near the Piazza del Gesù
Palazzo della Cancelleria between the Corso Vittorio Emanuele II and Campo de' Fiori
Palazzo Pio in Via della Conciliazione (in exchange for Palazzo della Dataria)
Pontifical Minor Roman Seminary

Furthermore, any church in Italy where the Pope celebrates religious ceremonies and to which the public has no access is considered extraterritorial during this period.

Since the urban planning requirements of the city of Rome and Castel Gandolfo, as well as the needs of the Holy See, have changed since the Lateran Treaties came into force, several territorial exchanges or minor adjustments to the boundaries of extraterritorial territories have taken place since 1929.

For example, in 1979, the Palazzo della Dataria, near the Quirinal Palace, was transferred to the Italian State, which in return ceded the San Pio X Palace, on Via della Conciliazione, to the Holy See.

Extraterritorial territory outside Rome

Extraterritorial property of the Holy See in Castel Gandolfo:
1. Papal palace with adjacent garden
2. Garden of the Villa Cybo
3. Villa Barberini, gardens and agricultural area
4. Oliveto ex-Bacelli
5. Church of San Tommaso di Villanova

The two zones located outside the city of Rome constitute the largest part of the total extraterritorial territory. These include the papal summer residence at Castel Gandolfo (whose boundaries have changed several times) and, since 1952, the Vatican Radio transmission center at Santa Maria di Galeria.

Summer residence in Castel Gandolfo

The extraterritorial area of the papal summer residence extends for just over 2 km along the crater rim of Lake Albano, from Castel Gandolfo to the neighboring municipality of Albano Laziale.

With an area of over 55 hectares, it is larger than the territory of Vatican City itself. The Directorate of the Pontifical Villas (Direzione delle Ville Pontificie), a department of the Governorate of Vatican City, is solely responsible for the administration of the Castel Gandolfo area.

Since the signing of the Lateran Treaty in 1929, the boundaries of the complex have been modified several times. For example, in the 1930s, Pius XI acquired land near Albano Laziale to establish a small farm, which has since supplied the papal court and the Vatican supermarket. In 1947, these newly acquired lands (which also include the "ex-Bacelli" olive grove), together with the adjacent convent of the Poor Clares, were granted extraterritorial status.

In return, the Holy See waived this privilege with respect to the parish cemetery of Albano Laziale (extraterritorial according to the annex to the Lateran Treaties).