The flag of Vatican City is one of only two square national flags in the world. The other is the Swiss flag. It is also one of the oldest flags that represent a universal religious authority. It was officially adopted on 7 June 1929, as part of the Lateran Pacts. The design uses two vertical bands (golden yellow on the left, white on the right). On the white band sits the coat of arms of the Holy See: Saint Peter’s crossed keys crowned by the papal tiara. This page covers its origin, the meaning of the colours, the technical rules and where you will see it during Pope Leo XIV’s journey to Spain (6-12 June 2026).
History and origin
Yellow and white appeared as the colours of the Holy See in 1808. Pope Pius VII put them on the cockade of the papal army in place of the older red and yellow. He did it so that his troops would not be confused with the Napoleonic forces then occupying Rome.
Through the 19th century the yellow and white flag stood for the Papal States. That period ended in 1870, when the Kingdom of Italy took Rome during the country’s unification. The Holy See lost its territory but kept the colours as a sign of the Pope’s spiritual authority.
The flag as we know it today was born with the Lateran Pacts, signed on 11 February 1929 between the Holy See and the Kingdom of Italy. Those agreements created Vatican City State. The flag entered into force on 7 June 1929, and that is the date the Vatican still celebrates as its official anniversary.
What the colours mean
The two colours are read in symbolic terms. They point to the keys of Saint Peter from Matthew 16:19 and to the double authority, spiritual and temporal, traditionally attributed to the Pope.
Golden yellow
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Represents the gold key given by Christ to Saint Peter as a symbol of the spiritual power to bind and loose in heaven. It also evokes divine light and the dignity of the supreme pontificate.
White
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Represents the silver key, symbol of the Pope’s temporal power on earth. It also means purity, peace and the light of the Gospel that spreads universally.
The coat of arms: Saint Peter’s keys and the papal tiara
At the centre of the white band appears the coat of arms of the Holy See, formed by three heraldic elements full of meaning.
Gold key
Points upwards, towards heaven. Symbolises the Pope’s spiritual power: the power to bind and loose in heaven according to Christ’s words to Peter (Matthew 16:19).
Silver key
Points downwards, towards the earth. Symbolises the Pope’s jurisdiction over the universal Church on the earthly plane.
Red cord
Joins the two keys in a cross. Represents the unity between the spiritual and the temporal power in the person of Peter’s successor.
Papal tiara
Triple crown that historically represented the Pope as father of kings, ruler of the world and vicar of Christ. Although Paul VI ceased to use the tiara in 1963, it remains in the coat of arms as a symbol of papal authority.
Official technical specifications
The Vatican flag follows specific norms established by the Vatican City State for its manufacture and official use.
| Proportion | 1:1 (square) |
|---|---|
| Vertical division | Two equal bands: yellow on the left, white on the right |
| Coat of arms position | Centred on the white band |
| Yellow Pantone | Approximately Pantone 116 C |
| Alternative form | Rectangular version allowed for processions and internal use |
| Square flags | Only the Vatican and Switzerland have square national flags |
Where you will see the flag during the visit
The Vatican flag will fly next to the Spanish one at every official venue of the journey: the welcome ceremony at the Royal Palace (6 June), the Corpus Christi Mass at Plaza de Cibeles (7 June), the speech to the Congress (8 June), the diocesan gathering at the Bernabéu, the Mass at the Sagrada Familia and the inauguration of the Tower of Jesus Christ (10 June), the mass Eucharist at the Gran Canaria Stadium (11 June) and the closing Mass at the Port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife (12 June). Protocol puts the Vatican flag on the right of the Spanish one as you look from the audience (on the left from the stage). That is the standard diplomatic rule when the Holy See is hosted.
Curiosities about the Vatican flag
- Only two countries in the world have a square flag: Vatican City and Switzerland. The Papal States also had a square flag at some point in history.
- The coat of arms of the official Vatican City flag and the coat of arms of the reigning Pope are NOT identical: each Pope has his personal coat of arms with his episcopal motto, while the flag bears the institutional coat of arms of the Holy See.
- The yellow and white flag is also used by the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem and other pontifical orders.
- The uniforms of the Pontifical Swiss Guard use the same yellow, red and blue colours traditionally attributed to Michelangelo, visually complementing the Vatican flag at official events.
- Vatican City is the smallest independent state in the world (0.49 km²) and yet its flag flies in more embassies than that of many countries: the Holy See maintains diplomatic relations with more than 180 states.
Where to buy a Vatican flag
If you want to attend the Pope’s events with the Vatican flag, there are models for outdoor poles, hand flags for vigils and small balcony flags. The 90×90 cm polyester models are the most used by pilgrims. Remember that the official flag is square (1:1).
Frequently asked questions
- Why is the Vatican flag yellow and white?
- The yellow and white colours were adopted in 1808 by Pope Pius VII to distinguish the papal troops from the French ones during the Napoleonic occupation. They were later associated with the symbolism of the two keys of Saint Peter (gold for heaven, silver for the earth).
- What does the coat of arms on the Vatican flag represent?
- The coat of arms is formed by two crossed keys (one gold and one silver) joined by a red cord and topped by the papal tiara. They represent the spiritual and temporal authority of the Pope as successor of Saint Peter, in reference to Matthew 16:19: "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven."
- When was the Vatican flag adopted?
- The current flag was formalised by the Lateran Pacts signed on 11 February 1929 between the Holy See and the Kingdom of Italy. It came into force on 7 June 1929, the date considered the official anniversary of the flag and of Vatican City State.
- Why is the Vatican flag square?
- The square shape (1:1 proportion) derives from the heraldic tradition of papal military and diplomatic standards used since the 19th century. Only two countries in the world have a square national flag: the Vatican and Switzerland.
- Is the Holy See flag the same as the Vatican flag?
- Yes, they are the same flag. The Holy See (the papal authority) and Vatican City (the physical state) share the same official flag. Some diplomatic representations use only the coat of arms on a white background as a variant.
- Can I bring a Vatican flag to the Pope’s events in Spain?
- Yes. At vigils, mass Eucharists and processions it is permitted and customary to bring the Vatican flag, the national flag and regional flags. In venues with access control (Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, Gran Canaria Stadium) check the rules on permitted objects beforehand: rigid poles are usually prohibited for safety reasons.