Holy See

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St. Peter's Square

Pope Francis: A Life in Pictures

Hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church

Vatican City: St. Peter's Basilica

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Agnes with a lamb near her feet. St. Agnes (Saint Agnes) design drawing for stained glass window by J&R Lamb Studios, ink, mount size 10.5 x 14.5 in.

Roman Catholic Saints

Saint Francis Xavier baptizing the infidels by an unknown painter, 18th century; in the collection of the Museo Nacional de Arte, Mexico City, Mexico.

How did St. Francis Xavier shape Catholicism?

Marriage. A couple getting married during a church wedding ceremony. (religion, ceremony, bride, groom)

The Seven Sacraments of the Roman Catholic church

Candles Burning On Table In Church

What Is the Most Widely Practiced Religion in the World?

Stained glass window showing ten Christian saints. St Peters Church, Cound, Shropshire, England.

Too Good to Rot? Saints with Incorrupt Bodies

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Lake Mead (the impounded Colorado River) at the Hoover Dam. The light-coloured band of rock above the shoreline shows the decrease in water level in the first few years of the 21st century.

6 Lakes That Are Drying Up

Estimated battle casualties, Normandy invasion, World War II. WWII, D-Day

Estimated Battle Casualties During the Normandy Invasion and Campaign to Liberate Paris (June–August 1944)

African Americans demonstrating for voting rights in front of the White House as police and others watch, March 12, 1965. One sign reads, "We demand the right to vote everywhere." Voting Rights Act, civil rights.

Timeline of the American Civil Rights Movement

airplane in flight (plane, aircraft, flying)

7 Puzzling Plane Disappearances

San Francisco, California/USA-1/18/20: Womens March at Civic Center marching with signs of political protest regarding equality also embracing 2020 presidential candidates and celebrating equality

How Does the U.S. Government Define the Difference Between a Protest and a Riot?

Dancers at a Cinco de Mayo festival at the Mission District, San Francisco, California. (Photo dated 2019.) holidays

Is Cinco de Mayo Mexico's Independence Day?

Paul Revere. "The bloody massacre perpetrated in King Street Boston on March 5th 1770 by a party of the 29th Regt.," engraved by Paul Revere. Boston Massacre.

There’s a Riot Goin’ On: Riots in U.S. History (Part One)

Holy See: Facts & Related Content

Written and fact-checked by The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last Updated: May 30, 2025

News •

Pope prays for Chinese Catholics, hinting at how he will approach one of the Church’s thorniest issues • May 26, 2025, 2:53 AM ET (CNN)

Pope prays for Chinese Catholics to be in communion with Rome in first comments on thorny issues • May 25, 2025, 4:12 AM ET (ABC News (U.S.))

Pope Leo XIV affirms family is based on union between a man and a woman, unborn has inherent dignity • May 16, 2025, 5:31 AM ET (AP)

Facts

Areas Of Involvement	Roman Catholicism • government
Related People	Joe Donnelly

Photos

St. Peter's Square

Hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church

Vatican City: St. Peter's Basilica

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