The Vatican is known by almost everyone. It is a curious fact, but, although everyone talks about the Vatican, it is not what they really mean! Most people say ‘Vatican’ and mean the gigantic church, or basilica, in Rome. Italy. But this is not the Vatican. It is St. Peter’s Basilica. It is one of the Pope’s four churches in Rome. Its full title is The Papal Basilica of St. Peter in the Vatican.

St. Peter’s Basilica is not the Pope’s official seat, and it is not even the most important of his churches. The chief church is the Pope’s cathedral, the Basilica of St. John Lateran. When there, he is Bishop of Rome. Nevertheless, St. Peter’s Basilica is by far the biggest and main church in practice - for most of the Pope’s main duties occur there. It is also next to the place where the Pope lives (papal residence) and inside the walls of the Vatican City.

The basilica is actually the biggest building in the independent state known as the Vatican City. That was formed in 1929 to separate the Roman Catholic church from the state of Italy. But the church takes up most of the land of the Vatican City, which is why the word Vatican is used so often.