Vatican City is the smallest independent state in the world and functions primarily as the spiritual and administrative center of the Roman Catholic Church. Its sovereignty allows the church to operate independently from external political control, a structure formalized in the twentieth century. Governance is organized around religious authority rather than conventional democratic systems, with administrative functions focused on diplomacy, doctrine, and global coordination. Despite its small physical size, Vatican City maintains extensive international influence through religious networks, cultural institutions, and diplomatic relations with many countries. The economy relies on services, donations, tourism, and publication rather than industry or trade. Cultural preservation is a major focus, with significant efforts devoted to maintaining historical buildings, archives, and artworks. Vatican City demonstrates how symbolic authority, institutional continuity, and global networks can generate influence independent of population size, territory, or conventional economic power.