The post of Governor of the Vatican City State ( it, Governatore dello Stato della Città del Vaticano) was held by Marchese
Camillo Serafini
Camillo Serafini (April 21, 1864 – March 21, 1952) was an Italian Marquis and the only Governor of Vatican City from 11 February 1929 – 21 March 1952.He was a noted numismatist.
The Marquis and Cardinal Domenico Serafini, Prefect of Prop ...
from the foundation of the state in 1929 until his death in 1952. No successor was appointed, and the post itself was not mentioned in the
Fundamental Law of Vatican City State
The Fundamental Law of Vatican City State, promulgated by Pope John Paul II on 26 November 2000, is the main governing document of the Vatican's civil entities. It obtained the force of law of 22 February 2001, Feast of the Chair of St. Peter, A ...
issued by
Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II ( la, Ioannes Paulus II; it, Giovanni Paolo II; pl, Jan Paweł II; born Karol Józef Wojtyła ; 18 May 19202 April 2005) was the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 1978 until his ...
on 26 November 2000, which entered into force on 22 February 2001.
Even during Serafini's lifetime, the powers of the governor were limited by
Pope Pius XII
Pope Pius XII ( it, Pio XII), born Eugenio Maria Giuseppe Giovanni Pacelli (; 2 March 18769 October 1958), was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 2 March 1939 until his death in October 1958. Before his e ...
in 1939 by the establishment of the
Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State
The Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State ( la, Pontificia Commissio pro Civitate Vaticana, it, Pontificia Commissione per lo Stato della Città del Vaticano;) is the legislative body of Vatican City. It consists of a president, who als ...
—consisting of a number of cardinals, originally three, but later increased to seven. The president of the pontifical commission has exercised the functions that were previously attributed to the governor since 1952, and has also held the title of President of the
Governorate of the Vatican City State since 2001.
External links
Francesco Clementi: La nuova "Costituzione" dello Stato della Città del Vaticano*
ttps://www.mulino.it/isbn/9788815131515 Sullo Stato della Città del Vaticano v. F. Clementi, Città del Vaticano, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2009
{{Vatican City topics
Government of Vatican City