Vatican

American  

[vat-i-kuhn] / ˈvæt ɪ kən /

noun

1. Also called Vatican Palace.  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 theQuirinal ).

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Vatican British  

/ 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

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Etymology

Origin of Vatican

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

Example Sentences

Cuba will release 51 prisoners in the coming days as a demonstration of "goodwill" following talks with the Vatican, Havana's government has said.

From BBC

In a goodwill gesture, Cuba said Thursday it would release 51 prisoners after talks with the Vatican, which has previously acted as mediator between Washington and Havana.

From Barron's

Speaking Sunday from the Vatican, Pope Leo XIV made a “heartfelt appeal to all the parties involved to assume the moral responsibility of halting the spiral of violence before it becomes an unbridgeable chasm.”

From Los Angeles Times

His shrine was so important that Pope Callistus II said two pilgrimages to St Davids were worth one to the Vatican.

From BBC

Arabic-language newspaper El Khabar agreed the visit, which was announced by the Vatican on Tuesday, "carries a great symbolic and spiritual dimension".

From Barron's

Related Words

• pontiff