Flag of Vatican City

The flag of Vatican City is divided into two vertical halves: yellow by the mast and white on the other side. On the white part it bears two crossed keys, one of gold and one of silver, under the tiara, the triple crown of the popes. It is also square, something it shares only with Switzerland.

How it came about

For centuries the pope was not only the head of the Catholic Church: he also ruled the Papal States, a territory in the centre of Italy. His colours were red and yellow, the traditional ones of the city of Rome.

Everything changed in 1808. Napoleon had occupied Rome and taken part of the papal troops into his army. So that they would not be confused with them, Pope Pius VII ordered the soldiers who remained loyal to change red for white. That is how the yellow and white were born. In 1870 Italy conquered Rome and the pope was left with no state. He got it back in 1929, when he signed the Lateran Treaties with Italy, which created Vatican City, and the new country adopted the old flag of the papal ships.

How it has changed

Since 1808 the colours have not changed; what has varied is how they are placed and how the coat of arms is drawn.

1. 

   Until 1808

   The Papal States use red and yellow, the colours of Rome.

2. 

   1825-1870

   The papal merchant ships fly a yellow and white flag with the keys and the tiara. It is the direct ancestor of the current one.

3. 

   1929

   Vatican City is born and recovers that flag. It is raised for the first time on 8 June 1929.

4. 

   2023

   The Fundamental Laws of the State of 2000 and 2023 touch up the drawing of the coat of arms and the shade of the colours.

What it means

Everything on the flag speaks of the power of the pope:

• Yellow and white

  the gold and the silver of the two keys.

• Crossed keys

  the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven which, according to the Gospel, Jesus gave to St Peter. They symbolise the authority of the pope, who considers himself his successor.

• Tiara

  the three-crowned papal tiara, which represents his spiritual power and his role as head of state.

Fun facts

1. Square, but not always

   The official model is square, but in 2010 the Vatican representation in Germany made it clear that it is not compulsory. Outside the Vatican it is often seen rectangular.

2. An error that travelled on the internet

   Many copies show the inside of the tiara painted red, when on the flag it is white. The error already existed before, but it spread because Wikimedia Commons used that version between 2006 and 2007 and between 2017 and 2022.

3. Debut at the UN

   The Vatican is not a member of the United Nations but an observer. That is why its flag did not fly at the New York headquarters until 25 September 2015.