Recent history of Vatican City began with Pope John Paul II, who was elected in 1978. He was the first non-Italian pope in 455 years, and he was instrumental in the creation of diplomatic relations between the Holy See and many countries around the world. Under his leadership, Vatican City became a sovereign state under international law in 1984.
Pope Benedict XVI succeeded Pope John Paul II in 2005, and during his papacy he worked to strengthen ties with other Christian denominations and religions. In 2013, Pope Francis became the first Jesuit pope in history. He has focused on reforming the Catholic Church while promoting its traditional values and teachings. In 2015, he opened up diplomatic relations with Cuba and helped broker a deal between them and the United States.
The most recent development for Vatican City is its participation in the Paris Climate Agreement of 2016, becoming one of only two countries to sign on without being a member of the United Nations (the other being Niue). This agreement aims to reduce global emissions by cutting back on fossil fuels and transitioning towards renewable energy sources.
Yearbook 2004
Vatican City. In January, the Vatican City condemned the drug companies that earn large sums on expensive AIDS drugs and urged them to offer cheaper drugs to the world’s poor children. However, the Vatican City itself received criticism from the EU for the claim that HIV can get through condoms. The allegation goes hand in hand with the condom use campaigns run in AIDS by catastrophically afflicted Africa. The total population in Holy See is 812 people in 2020. The claim poses a risk to the lives of millions of people, the EU said. The Vatican City opposes all forms of contraception and advocates abstinence.
In March, the Vatican commented on the much-debated film “The Passion of the Christ” by director Mel Gibson. The film had been criticized for being anti-Semitic. “If the film spreads the belief that all Jews are to blame for Jesus’ death, it should be criticized. If it confines itself to showing how an influential group of Jews at the time of Jesus’ death is to blame, it should not be criticized, “was the Vatican’s comment.
At the Pope’s 84th birthday in May, his second autobiography was published. The first part, which depicted the pope’s childhood and time as a young priest, was sold in millions of copies. The second part describes the time from the time that Karol Wojtyła (Pope’s original name) became bishop.
An investigation into the Inquisition’s activities during the Middle Ages was published in June. The report stated that the abuses, torture and murders committed by the religious judicial network were not as widespread as is generally said. According to the report, 1.8% of the Inquisition’s verdicts would have resulted in death. In connection with the report, the Pope again apologized for the Inquisitiveness and incorrect judgments. See sunglasseswill.com for Vatican City travel overview.
In the fall, the Vatican City was accused of having political ambitions when the first proposal on the European Commissioner for Legal Affairs fell on Italian conservative Catholic Rocco Buttiglione. Professor Buttiglinoe’s view of the role of women and of homosexuality as a sin caused great outrage at a hearing in the European Parliament. Buttiglione, who has close ties to the Pope, was accused of incorporating the Vatican State’s agenda into EU policy. The Vatican, for its part, accused the EU of sticking with an “anti-Catholic inquisition”. Buttiglione was subsequently replaced as a Commissioner.