Animals and Plants
Nature in the Vatican?
Since around half of the national territory consists of the Vatican Gardens, there is also nature here! Part of the gardens were designed by humans. Lawn has been laid here and flowers have been planted. But there are also more pristine areas. Pine, pine, holm oak, cypress, cedar and palm trees grow here.
But also small animals and birds have their refuge here. Squirrels, rabbits, hamsters and mice are among them. In addition to parrots and parakeets, bats also fly around here. Lizards and snakes are crawling.
The gardens are closed to visitors. Since his resignation as Pope, Benedict XVI has lived. in a building in the gardens, in the Mater Ecclesiae monastery.
Economy
Revenue for the Vatican
As the only country starting with V in Europe according to Countryaah, the Vatican also has income. This includes, for example, income from buildings owned by the state, but also the surpluses that are generated. There is a gas station, a pharmacy, a supermarket and a clothing store in the Vatican. The sale of postage stamps, coins and souvenirs also puts money in the coffers.
There is a self-service restaurant, a pizzeria and a café in the Vatican Museums. There is a souvenir shop and a café on the roof of St. Entrance to the museums and the state-owned print shop generate something. There are also donations.
Everyday Life
How does the Pope live?
Such a Pope has a very busy schedule. Since most of the popes are older when they are elected to this office, they must stay fit. When others have long been retired, the Pope has yet to really get started.
He is very much in the spotlight, travels around the world and of course has numerous tasks to perform in the Vatican. The best known is the donation of the blessing Urbi et Orbi (“the city and the world”) on taking office as well as at Easter and Christmas. There is also a papal audience every Wednesday. Of course, the Pope also holds masses and devotions and then he also has a completely normal office routine. He also receives frequent visitors, not only from clergy, but also from politicians from all over the world.
Even in everyday life, a Pope does not simply wear shirt and trousers, but his robe. It’s a white cassock, an ankle-length robe. That’s why there is a belt and a skullcap on the head.
Even a pope has to eat, but he doesn’t have to cook himself. Several cooks in the papal kitchen look after his body.
The Pope’s apartment has six rooms. It is on the third floor of the Apostolic Palace. A private chapel also belongs to the apartment. Pope Francis, however, prefers a modest room to live in. By the way, water and electricity are supplied by Italy.
Everyday life in the Vatican
It is true that many residents of the Vatican are ecclesiastical holders such as – besides the Pope – also cardinals or prelates. But other people also live in the Vatican. They are cooks, cleaning staff, salespeople, gas station attendants or waiters. There are also gardeners, tailors, carpenters, electricians and auto mechanics.
In addition to the Swiss Guard, the gendarmerie and fire brigade ensure security. 110 men belong to the Swiss Guard, 130 to the gendarmerie and 20 to the fire brigade. Every evening when St. Peter’s Basilica closes, two firefighters go into the dome for a patrol.
And what about children?
If a citizen of the Vatican has a child, this child also receives the Vatican citizenship. In Rome, however, you have to go to kindergarten or school, because neither is available in the Vatican. Men also lose their citizenship at the age of 25, women if they marry. One to five babies are born every year. Mostly they are children of Swiss Guards.
The papal boys’ choir of the Sistine Chapel can be heard regularly in St. However, the choirboys do not live in the Vatican, but about 800 meters away in the boarding school.
Are there any cars?
There are private and company cars. Private cars carry the registration number CV for Città del Vaticano. There are more than 100 company cars. Their registration number is SCV for Stato della Città del Vaticano. And there is also the popemobile. The Pope uses this in public appearances. But there is not just one, but a whole series of popemobiles. During the Wednesday audiences, the Pope drives it across St. Peter’s Square and it also comes with them when traveling abroad. By the way, you can drive a maximum of 30 kilometers per hour in the Vatican.
Eating in Vatican City
What does the Pope eat?
Even a pope has to eat. But of course he doesn’t put himself in the kitchen – for him there is chopping and sizzling in the papal kitchen. What the nuns prepare here, of course, also depends on the Pope’s preferences. For several centuries the popes came from Italy, so Italian cooking was preferred. The last popes, however, come from Poland, Germany and Argentina. And of course they had or still have their culinary preferences.
The current Pope, Francis, is not only humble in general, but also when it comes to eating. Argentinian food, however, tastes good to him. For example, he particularly likes empanadas, which are filled dumplings. For dessert he likes dulce de leche. It’s a dessert, a kind of “milk jam”. You can cook this favorite dessert from Pope Francis.