The International Legal Status of the Vatican/Holy See Complex

The international legal status of the Vatican/Holy See complex (VHS) does not meet criteria for statehood, according to a re-examination of its claims. The study argues that traditional grounds cited—such as diplomatic exchanges, membership in international agreements, and historical treaties like the 1929 Lateran Pacts—do not confer state status under international law. Diplomatic interactions remain missionary and hierarchical, lacking the reciprocity or customary obligations typical of sovereign states. Since the eclipse of the papal state in 1870, the VHS's legal standing has remained unchanged, despite its participation in global organizations. The research emphasizes that the Roman Catholic Church, as one among many faith-based movements, should not be privileged in temporal governance under international law.

Morss, J. R. (2015). The International Legal Status of the Vatican/Holy See Complex. European Journal of International Law, 26(4), 927–946. https://doi.org/10.1093/ejil/chv062