Flag of Holy See
countryThe flag of Holy See was adopted on June 7, 2001. Square vertical bicolour with the papal coat of arms. It uses 3 colours: gold, white and silver. The official proportions are 1:1.
Basic Flag Information
| Flag Name | Flag of Holy See |
|---|---|
| Country | Holy See |
| Official Country Name | Vatican City State |
| Capital | Vatican City |
| Continent | Europe |
| Region | Southern Europe |
| ISO Country Code | VA / VAT |
| Internet Domain | .va |
| Calling Code | +3 (multiple: 906698, 79) |
| Currency | Euro (EUR) |
| National Language(s) | Italian, Latin |
| Demonym | Vatican |
| Area | 0 km² |
| Population | about 800 (2025 est.) |
Flag Specifications
| Official Flag Name | Flag of Holy See |
|---|---|
| Adopted On | June 7, 2001 |
| First Used | 1825 |
| Current Version Adopted | June 7, 2001 |
| Flag Proportion | 1:1 |
| Flag Shape | Square |
| Number of Colors | 3 |
| Main Colors | Gold, White, Silver |
| Design Type | Square vertical bicolour with the papal coat of arms |
| Official Status | Official National Flag |
| Government Authority | Government of Holy See |
Flag Color Information
| Color | Appearance | HEX Code | RGB | CMYK |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gold | #FFE000 | 255, 224, 0 | 0, 12, 100, 0 | |
| White | #FFFFFF | 255, 255, 255 | 0, 0, 0, 0 | |
| Silver | #CCCCCC | 204, 204, 204 | 0, 0, 0, 20 |
Flag Design and Symbols
| Gold colour | Represents the golden key of spiritual power |
|---|---|
| White colour | Represents the silver key of temporal power |
| Silver colour | Represents the crossed key |
| Crossed keys | The keys of Saint Peter — gold for spiritual authority, silver for temporal |
| Papal tiara | The threefold crown of the Pope |
| Square shape | One of only two square national flags, alongside Switzerland |
Flag History
| Year / Period | Event |
|---|---|
| 1825 | The design was first used |
| 2001-06-07 | The current flag was officially adopted |
| Present | The flag remains in official use |
| Present | The flag remains in official use |
Flag Dimensions and Construction
| Official Ratio | 1:1 |
|---|---|
| Width | 1 units (hoist) |
| Length | 1 units (fly) |
Holy See Flag Usage
| Government Buildings | Yes |
|---|---|
| Schools | Yes |
| Civil Use | Yes |
| Official Ceremonies | Yes |
| Sports Events | Yes |
| National Holidays | Yes |
| Military | Yes |
| Naval Use | Yes |
| Embassies | Yes |
| International Events | Yes |
Other Official Flags of Holy See
| Flag Type | Use | Link |
|---|---|---|
| National Flag | National representation | View flag |
| Civil Flag | Used by civilians | View flag |
| State Flag | Used by government | View flag |
| War Flag | Used during military operations | View flag |
| Naval Ensign | Used by the navy | View flag |
| Air Force Flag | Used by the air force | View flag |
| Presidential Standard | Used by the head of state | View flag |
| Royal Standard | Used by the monarch | View flag |
| Historical Flag | Previous national flag | View flag |
Quick Facts About the Flag
| Flag Age | 25 years old as of 2026 |
|---|---|
| Adoption Date | June 7, 2001 |
| Oldest Version | 1825 |
| Most Common Color | Gold |
| Similar Flags | Malta |
| Unique Feature | Square vertical bicolour with the papal coat of arms |
Other vertical bicolour with an emblem flags
See all
Facts about the Flag of Holy See
- One of only two square national flags in the world, alongside Switzerland's.
- The crossed keys are the keys of Saint Peter — gold for the power in heaven, silver for the power on earth — bound by a red cord.
- The tiara above the keys is the papal crown, still used heraldically even though it has not been worn since 1963.
- The flag of Holy See was officially adopted on June 7, 2001.
- The design is older than its adoption. It was already in use in 1825, 176 years before it was formally made the flag of Holy See.
- The flag in its present form is 25 years old as of 2026.
- Design type: Square vertical bicolour with the papal coat of arms.
- The official proportions are 1:1. It shares that ratio with 1 national flag.
- The flag uses 3 colours: gold, white and silver.
- The gold on the flag stands for the golden key of spiritual power.
- The white on the flag stands for the silver key of temporal power.
- The silver on the flag stands for the crossed key.
- Crossed keys: The keys of Saint Peter — gold for spiritual authority, silver for temporal.
- Papal tiara: The threefold crown of the Pope.
- Square shape: One of only two square national flags, alongside Switzerland.
- The design belongs to the "Vertical bicolour with an emblem" family, shared with 2 other flags in this reference.
- Flags most often confused with it: Malta.
- The Holy See's temporal sovereignty over Vatican City was established by the Lateran Treaty of 11 February 1929.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Flag of Holy See
When was the flag of Holy See adopted?
The flag of Holy See was officially adopted on June 7, 2001, though the design had already been in use since 1825.
What do the colours of the flag of Holy See mean?
Gold for the golden key of spiritual power, white for the silver key of temporal power and silver for the crossed key.
When did Holy See gain independence?
The Holy See's temporal sovereignty over Vatican City was established by the Lateran Treaty of 11 February 1929.
What do the symbols on the flag of Holy See represent?
Crossed keys — The keys of Saint Peter — gold for spiritual authority, silver for temporal. Papal tiara — The threefold crown of the Pope. Square shape — One of only two square national flags, alongside Switzerland.
What are the proportions of the flag of Holy See?
The official ratio is 1:1, which makes the flag square. It shares those proportions with 1 national flag.
What is the national anthem of Holy See?
The national anthem is "Inno e Marcia Pontificale".
When is the national day of Holy See?
It falls on 13 March, the anniversary of the reigning Pope's election, and the flag is flown across the country.
What is the capital of Holy See?
The capital is Vatican City. The currency is the Euro (EUR) and the language spoken is Italian, Latin.
Which flags look similar to the flag of Holy See?
The closest matches are Malta, which share both the construction and most of the colours.
How many colours are on the flag of Holy See?
It uses 3 colours: gold, white and silver.