The State of the Vatican City is a sovereign city-state situated within Rome. Synonyms for the Vatican City include Holy See, Vatican City State, Vatican State, and City of the Vatican. The Holy See is the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Catholic Church, which comprises the Pope and the Roman Curia, the central governing body of the Church. Vatican City State is the geographical area of the city-state, and it is the smallest independent state in the world. Vatican State and City of the Vatican are synonymous with Vatican City, although they are less commonly used. Overall, these synonyms represent the cultural, religious, and political significance of the Vatican City across the world.