Vaticaanstad

A Vatican City nationality exists so that senior clergy can travel with a Vatican passport and gain diplomatic status in countries where their credentials have been accepted. As of December 31, 2011, 594 persons held the nationality of Vatican City (71 cardinals, 307 other male clergy, one nun, 109 members of the Swiss Guard and 55 lay people. Almost all of these people have dual nationality and kept their original nationality while working for the Vatican Citizens are acquired solely by naturalization, not by birth Most Italians who work for the Vatican do not have Vatican nationality.