Several famous and well-visited locations within Vatican City have been transformed for the conclave. Here’s a map of the key locations within Vatican City you should know about as the conclave ...

Is the Vatican its own country? What to know about the world's smallest sovereign nation Only about 100 acres in size, Vatican City is the smallest independent nation in the world. It is led by ...

The official start of the papal conclave to elect the next leader of the Catholic Church is about to begin.

While Vatican City is an independent city-state, it is entirely surrounded by Rome. The pope resides within Vatican City in the Apostolic Palace or, in some cases, alternative accommodations ...

Firefighters place the chimney on the roof of the Sistine Chapel, where cardinals will gather to elect the new pope, at the Vatican, Friday, May 2, 2025.

The Vatican released videos of the Room of Tears ahead of the conclave. In the room, there are vestments in 3 different sizes, depending on the size of the new pope.

Firefighters place the chimney on the roof of the Sistine Chapel, where cardinals will gather to elect the new pope, at the Vatican, Friday, May 2, 2025.

Firefighters place the chimney on the roof of the Sistine Chapel, where cardinals will gather to elect the new pope, at the Vatican, Friday, May 2, 2025.

Firefighters place the chimney on the roof of the Sistine Chapel, where cardinals will gather to elect the new pope, at the Vatican, Friday, May 2, 2025.

That's more than any nation except Italy, home to 17 of the electors who will gather at the Vatican's Sistine Chapel on Wednesday for the conclave that will choose a successor to Pope Francis.

The Vatican as an enclave and independent state headed by the pope only dates to 1929. However, the city’s history and influence over not only the church but of Rome is much longer.