National holiday: Installation Day of the Pope, 22 October (1978)
(John Paul II)
note: Pope John Paul II was elected on 16 October 1978
Constitution: Apostolic Constitution of 1967 (effective 1 March
1968)
Legal system: NA
Suffrage: limited to cardinals less than 80 years old
Executive branch:
chief of state: Pope JOHN PAUL II (Karol WOJTYLA; since 16 October
1978) was elected for life by the College of Cardinals; election
last held 16 October 1978 (next to be held after the death of the
current pope); results - Karol WOJTYLA was elected for life by the
College of Cardinals
head of government: Secretary of State Archbishop Angelo Cardinal
SODANO (since NA 1991) was appointed by the pope
cabinet: Pontifical Commission was appointed by Pope
Legislative branch: unicameral Pontifical Commission
Judicial branch: none; normally handled by Italy
Political parties and leaders: none
Other political or pressure groups: none (exclusive of influence
exercised by church officers)
International organization participation: IAEA, ICFTU, Intelsat,
IOM (observer), ITU, OAS (observer), OSCE, UN (observer), UNCTAD,
UNHCR, UPU, WIPO, WToO (observer)