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Palazzo del Laterano

Historic site · Monti, Italy

The palace in which the Lateran Pacts were signed on 11 February 1929. The Italian Wikipedia article on the Pacts says they «presero il nome del Palazzo di San Giovanni in Laterano in cui furono firmati» — took their name from the palace in which they were signed. The signature date is corroborated by the treaty text published by the Holy See.

History

Under the Lateran Treaty of 11 February 1929, Italy recognises the Holy See's full ownership of this property (Art. 13; Annex II). Art. 15 states that the property, «benché facenti parte del territorio dello Stato italiano» — although forming part of the territory of the Italian State — enjoys the immunities that international law grants to the headquarters of the diplomatic agents of foreign States. It is on Italian soil and visitors are subject to Italian law. Annex II, Tav. 1 names the «Basilica e Palazzo Apostolico Lateranense ed annessi con la Scala Santa», which is where the palace's status comes from.

One name inside the building misleads: the Museo storico vaticano stands in the Palazzo del Laterano, on Italian soil. It is not in Vatican City and nothing here should be read as saying it is.

Visit

Piazza di San Giovanni in Laterano, Roma RM

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