Holy See (Vatican City)

Area: .44 sq km
Comparative area: 7/10 the size of The National Mall in Washington, DC
Population (July 2011 estimate): 832
Official language(s): none official, but Italian, Latin and French are predominant
International Organizations and Agreements: permanent observer in United Nations and World Trade Organization; member of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

The Holy See conducts active diplomacy. The U.S.-Holy See relationship is best characterized as an active global partnership on a wide range of global issues. There is frequent contact and cooperation between the United States and the Holy See on many important international issues of mutual interest, including human rights and human dignity, inter-religious understanding, peace and nonproliferation, development, and environmental protection.

In 1971, the Holy See announced the decision to adhere to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) in order to "give its moral support to the principles that form the base of the treaty itself." The Holy See is also a participating state in the OSCE and a guest of honor to the Parliamentary Assembly of the OSCE.