20170930

9.30侃 Encircled by a 2-mile border with Italy, Vatican City is an independent city-state that covers just over 100 acres, making it one-eighth the size of New York’s Central Park. Vatican City is governed as an absolute monarchy with the pope at its head. The Vatican mints its own euros, prints its own stamps, issues passports and license plates, operates media outlets and has its own flag and anthem. The only government function it lacks is taxation. Museum admission fees, stamp and souvenir sales, and contri<font color="red">butions generate the Vatican’s revenue.