_#_Political parties and leaders: none
_#_Suffrage: limited to cardinals less than 80 years old
_#_Elections:
Pope--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
_#_Communists: NA
_#_Other political or pressure groups: none (exclusive of influence
exercised by church officers)
_#_Member of: CSCE, IAEA, ICFTU, IMF (observer), INTELSAT, IOM
(observer), ITU, OAS (observer), UN (observer), UNCTAD, UNHCR, UPU,
WIPO, WTO (observer)
_#_Diplomatic representation: Apostolic Pro-Nuncio Archbishop
Agostino CACCIAVILLAN; 3339 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008;
telephone (202) 333-7121;
US--Ambassador Thomas P. MELADY; Embassy at Villino Pacelli,
Via Aurelia 294, 00165 Rome (mailing address is APO New York 09794);
telephone [396] 639-0558
_#_Flag: two vertical bands of yellow (hoist side) and white with
the crossed keys of Saint Peter and the papal tiara centered in the white
band
_*_Economy
_#_Overview: This unique, noncommercial economy is supported
financially by contributions (known as Peter's Pence) from Roman
Catholics throughout the world, the sale of postage stamps, tourist
mementos, fees for admission to museums, and the sale of publications.
The incomes and living standards of lay workers are comparable to,
or somewhat better than, those of counterparts who work in the city
of Rome.
_#_Budget: revenues $76.6 million; expenditures $168 million,
including capital expenditures of $NA (1991)
_#_Electricity: 5,000 kW standby capacity (1990); power supplied by
Italy
_#_Industries: printing and production of a small amount of mosaics
and staff uniforms; worldwide banking and financial activities
_#_Currency: Vatican lira (plural--lire);
1 Vatican lira (VLit) = 100 centesimi
_#_Exchange rates: Vatican lire (VLit) per US$1--1,134.4 (January
1991), 1,198.1 (1990), 1,372.1 (1989), 1,301.6 (1988), 1,296.1 (1987),
1,490.8 (1986), 1,909.4 (1985); note--the Vatican lira is at par with the
Italian lira which circulates freely
_#_Fiscal year: calendar year
_*_Communications
_#_Railroads: 850 m, 750 mm gauge (links with Italian network near the
Rome station of Saint Peter's)
_#_Highways: none; all city streets
_#_Telecommunications: stations--3 AM, 4 FM, no TV; 2,000-line
automatic telephone exchange; no communications satellite systems
_*_Defense Forces
_#_Note: defense is the responsibility of Italy; Swiss Papal Guards
are posted at entrances to the Vatican City
_%_
_@_Venezuela
_*_Geography
_#_Total area: 912,050 km2; land area: 882,050 km2
_#_Comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of California
_#_Land boundaries: 4,993 km total; Brazil 2,200 km, Colombia 2,050
km, Guyana 743 km
_#_Coastline: 2,800 km
_#_Maritime claims:
Contiguous zone: 15 nm;
Continental shelf: 200 m (depth) or to depth of exploitation;
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;