1. This treaty was signed February 11, 1929 by Benito Mussolini for the Italian government and by a representative of the Vatican. It established the State of Vatican City (an enclave of Rome) as an independent and sovereign State. The Pope, for certain compensation and the Italian Government's recognition of the absolute independence of the Vatican State and his temporal sovereignty in the Vatican, gave recognition to the seizure of the Papal States and the City of Rome in 1861, 1870. The Pope also recognized the Italian State, and Rome as the Capital of Italy. Here the Pope is admitting to the whole world that he has not been the head of Rome since 1870 and that he has had no such rights since then. Secular History
2. Much has been made of this 1929 Treaty, but from the Biblical standpoint, it seems to be much ado about nothing. It is usually pointed to as an example of proof that the Pope either made a comeback or that he is on the way to make one. If it proves any thing along those lines, it proves the opposite of the usual interpretation; it proves that the Pope has rescinded and signed away all right to rule the world. He in effect said, "I am fully consumed and do not expect to rule over nations and people any more, forever."
3. To fully understand the significance of this Treaty, one must go back into Roman history to the year 1861. When the Italian government seized the Papal States (with the exception of Rome) in 1860 and 1861, Pope Pius IX was offered the nominal sovereignty of Rome while the King of Italy would become the effective ruler. Pope Pius refused. The French Army then maintained the Pope in Rome until 1870, when the French had to withdraw their army because of their fighting a losing war to Prussia. Victor Emmanuel then moved in and annexed Rome to the Kingdom of Italy. When Rome was made the capital of Italy the following year, Italy became fully united under the King. In 1871, the Italian government tried to compensate the Pope, but he again refused the pay, ordering Roman Catholics to boycott Italian political life. Secular History
4. The concessions and compensation the Pope received at the hands of Mussolini were simply an account payable of the Italian government which had been overdue about sixty years. The Pope received approximately the same compensation that King Victor Emmanuel had tried to give him in 1871. As has been previously stated, the Italian government, in 1871, passed the "Law of Guarantees" which authorized the payment of compensation to the Pope, which he promptly refused. A little known fact is that even after the Pope refused the compensation, the Law was not repealed but remained on the statue books in Italy. Secular History
5. The Roman Catholic Church has not had any temporal sovereignty over any people or property (except its own property completely surrounded by the City of Rome) since 1870 and will never have any again. Papacy's 1260 year period expired in 1799. A259:2; B356:5; C39:2; C58; Secular History;