Properties of the Holy See

Properties of the Holy See Today

The properties of the Holy See are regulated by the 1929 Lateran Treaty signed with the Kingdom of Italy. Although part of Italian territory, some of them enjoy immunities, similar to those of foreign embassies.

Outside Vatican City but inside Rome:

Extraterritorial property

• Archbasilica of St. John Lateran (Arcibasilica di San Giovanni in Laterano)

• Basilica of St. Mary Major (Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore)

• Basilica of St. 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, University and adjoining buildings,

• Palace of St Callixtus (Palazzo San Callisto) - home of the Pontifical Council Cor Unum.

• Certain Buildings on the Gianicolo Hill, namely the Pontifical Urbaniana University, the Pontifical North American College, and the Bambino Gesù Hospital.

• Palazzo della Cancelleria between the Corso Vittorio Emanuele and Campo de' Fiori.

• Palazzo di Propaganda Fide (the Palace of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples) in the Piazza di Spagna.

• Palace of the Holy Office - home of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in the Piazza del Sant'Uffizio and adjacent to the Basilica of St. Peter.

• Palace of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches (formerly Palace of the Convertendi in Piazza Scossacavalli), in Via della Conciliazione (rione of Borgo)

• Palace of the Vicariato (also called Palazzo Mattei Mascerotti) in Via della Pigna off the Corso Vittorio Emanuele near the Piazza del Gesù

• Pontifical Minor Roman Seminary

• Campo Santo Teutonico

• The larger part of Paul VI Audience Hall (the rostrum with the papal throne, however, is part of Vatican territory)

• Area of Santa Maria di Galeria, where the antennae of Vatican Radio are located. The area was ceded by Italy to the Holy See in an agreement in 1951.[3]

Non-extraterritorial property 

• Palace of the Holy Apostles attached to the Basilica dei Santi Apostoli.

• Palace attached to the Church of San Carlo ai Catinari

• Collegio Bellarmino in Via del Seminario near the Church of Sant'Ignazio.

• Archaeological Institute, Pontifical Oriental Institute, Lombard College & the Russian College on Piazza Santa Maria Maggiore.

• The two Palaces of Sant'Apollinare between the Piazza Sant'Apollinare & Via della Serola.

• The House of Retreat for the Clergy of Saints John & Paul, including the Nympheum of Nero, on the Caelian Hill.

Outside Rome:

Extraterritorial property

• Pontifical Palace, the Gardens of the Villa Cybo, Villa Barberini plus adjacent gardens, the summer estate of the Pontificio Collegio Urbano di Propaganda Fide and the papal farm between the towns of Castel Gandolfo and Albano Laziale (around 55 hectares or 140 acres).

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

Non-extraterritorial property

• The Basilica of the Holy House (Santa Casa) at Loreto, Province of Ancona.

• The Basilica of St Francis at Assisi, Province of Perugia.

• The Basilica of St Anthony at Padua, Province of Padua.