Vatican

[ vat-i-kuhn ]

noun

1. Also called Vatican Palace. the chief residence of the popes in Vatican City, now also including a library, archives, art museum, apartments, and administrative offices.
2. the authority and government of the pope (distinguished from the Quirinal ).

Vatican

/ ˈvætɪkən /

noun

1. 1. the palace of the popes in Rome and their principal residence there since 1377, which includes administrative offices, a library, museum, etc, and is attached to the basilica of St Peter's
   2. ( as modifier )

      the Vatican Council

2. 1. the authority of the Pope and the papal curia
   2. ( as modifier )

      a Vatican edict

Word History and Origins

Origin of Vatican¹

1545–55; < Latin vātīcānus ( mōns ) Vatican (hill)

Word History and Origins

Origin of Vatican¹

C16: from Latin Vāticānus mons Vatican hill, on the western bank of the Tiber, of Etruscan origin

Example Sentences

Although Catholic officials have apologized, conducted investigations and paid reparations to victims or their families, the Vatican has never issued a formal apology.

From Ozy

The Vatican on Monday said the Catholic Church cannot bless same-sex unions.

From Washington Blade

Weighing those facts, the Vatican and many prominent Catholic leaders nonetheless encouraged vaccination, but it was not uncommon for conservative Christians to worry that the vaccines were morally tainted.

From Washington Post

Lots of response to Monday’s post about the new Council for Inclusive Capitalism with the Vatican—not all of it supportive.

From Fortune

The founding members of the Coalition for Inclusive Capitalism with the Vatican comprises large corporations like Bank of America, BP, Estée Lauder, EY, Johnson & Johnson, Mastercard, Merck, Salesforce, and Visa.

From Quartz

Angelina Jolie was able to seemingly glide into the Vatican on Thursday to present her new film ‘Unbroken.’

From The Daily Beast

Lee and Coogan did briefly meet with the pope, with pictures to prove it, but no one at the Vatican officially screened the film.

From The Daily Beast

Undeterred by the snub in November, and denied a visa to Italy, Agca made plans for clandestine travel to Vatican City.

From The Daily Beast

He has put flowers on the tomb of John Paul II,” said Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi, “I think that is enough.

From The Daily Beast

His words apply not only to the Roman Curia at the Vatican but to the entire Church throughout the world.

From The Daily Beast

Many of these have been plundered and lost; but still a very interesting collection exists in the Vatican Library.

From Project Gutenberg

It lay at the foot of the Vatican hill, but we know little more of it than that it was the smallest of the three.

From Project Gutenberg

He studied so hard in the Vatican, that he took a chill in the cold rooms, which left him all his life a little deaf.

From Project Gutenberg

They were finally recovered in a faded condition and are now in the Vatican.

From Project Gutenberg

The Sistine Chapel was the most beautiful apartment in the Vatican.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• pontiff