Title: Vatican City Flag
Resolution: 3840 x 2160
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The flag of Vatican City, the smallest independent state in the world, is a distinctive and symbolic representation of its ecclesiastical and sovereign status. Adopted on June 7, 1929, alongside the Lateran Treaty establishing the Vatican City as an independent city-state within Rome, the flag features two vertical bands of equal width: one gold or yellow on the viewer’s left and one white on the right. Emblazoned at the center of the white band is the iconic crossed keys and Papal Tiara, both in gold. The crossed keys are a traditional symbol of the papacy, representing the authority of Saint Peter, and the Papal Tiara symbolizes the temporal power of the Pope. The gold and white colors of the flag hold deep religious significance, with gold symbolizing the spiritual power of the Papacy and white representing the purity and holiness of the Catholic Church.

The flag, designed by the heraldist Paolo Paschetto, is a unique and potent representation of the Vatican’s dual nature as both a spiritual and sovereign entity. Its simple yet profound design encapsulates the essence of the Vatican City, a city-state with a distinct religious authority headed by the Pope. Recognized worldwide, the Vatican City flag is a visual embodiment of the Holy See’s spiritual leadership and its status as an independent state, serving as a symbol of the close interconnection between religious and sovereign authority within the world’s smallest city-state.