Today in History is a daily newsletter from Britannica. (more) Today in History—June 7: Vatican City Becomes a Sovereign State Written by Scott Spires Scott Spires is Associate Editor for Geography at Encyclopædia Britannica. Scott Spires Fact-checked by Britannica Editors Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Britannica Editors Last updated June 3, 2026 •History On this day in 1929, the world’s smallest country was created. With a total area of 0.17 square miles, Vatican City is about one-eighth the size of New York City’s Central Park. It’s also totally surrounded by the city of Rome. Today in History is a daily newsletter from Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Want to learn more about what happened on June 7, or any other day of the year? Sign up to receive the...

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