Papal Flag
We carry authentic Papal Flags in both indoor and outdoor varieties, both of which are proudly made in the United States from durable nylon. Our indoor flags are finished with a pole hem and your choice of with or without golden fringe, whereas our outdoor flags are finished with a canvas header and brass grommets. Gold Fringe is the traditional way to display an indoor flag, however, some congregations choose without fringe for a more streamlined look that is also less expensive.
Many Roman Catholic Churches display an indoor flag presentation set on the stage of their congregation. If you are looking to purchase an indoor flag set, our Build Your Own Indoor Religious Flag Set program will allow you to select a durable nylon indoor Papal Flag and choose between premium quality poles, bases, and ornaments, and tassel. We also carry Indoor Papal Flags if you are simply looking to replace the flag on your existing indoor presentation hardware.
Some churches also display the Papal flag outdoors in front of the congregation on an in-ground or wall-mount pole. If you are looking for a replacement flag to fly outdoors, our durable nylon outdoor flags will be the right option. Likewise, if you are looking to purchase outdoor flagpoles or hardware, we can assist with that as well.
If the Roman Catholic faith is an important part of your identity and you are looking to display the Papal flag outside your home, our Build Your Own Outdoor Religious Flag Set program will allow you to choose between premium quality 6ft. poles and brackets to display the Papal Flag on your front porch.
Regardless of your application, we are looking forward to working with you to provide the required flags, flagpoles, and hardware for your application. If you need assistance, please reach out to us by phone, email, or chat, and we will be happy to help.
History of the Papal Flag
The Papal Flag, also known as the Flag of the Vatican City, or the Flag of the Holy See is the official emblem of the independent state of Vatican City. The flag features a bicolor design with a gold hoist (left) side and a white fly (right) side. The white side of the flag is emblazoned with the Papal Coat of Arms, which is comprised of a crossed pair of keys supporting a Papal Tiara.
The Vatican City is the world's smallest independent nation, both by land-mass and population. The country was established in 1929, when Pietro Gasparri and Benito Mussolini signed the Lateran Treaty, which settled a long-standing dispute between the Pope and the Italy, whereby Italy ceded a tiny portion of the Italian mainland to the head of the Roman Catholic Church to form The Vatican City. At the same time, the Papal flag was adopted by The Vatican City as the official symbol of the nation state.
Modern Italy was a very young country at the time, having recently been unified in 1861, from a collection of independent states, one of which was the Papal State. The Papacy refused to cede its territory, which led to their eventual occupation, which ended with the Lateran Treaty that established the Vatican City as an independent city state.
The Pope is the leader of the Vatican City, possessing both religious and political powers. His political powers extend only through the Vatican City, however, his religious authority applies to followers of the Roman Catholic Church around the world. The Vatican City is fully independent from Italy and Rome and therefore has its own police and administrative structures, all of which fall under control of the Papacy.
The cross keys design on the Papal Flag is a reference to Saint Peter, who was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus, the first leader of the Church, and is considered to have been the first Pope. Jesus was said to have given St. Peter the keys to the kingdom of heaven. One of the keys featured on the flag is gold, while the other is silver. The gold key is representative of the spiritual power of the heavens, while the silver key represents the worldly power of the papacy. The white and gold split design of the flag itself is also a reference to these powers. When the flag is used to represent the Vatican City, versus when it is used to represent the Holy See, the order of the gold and silver keys are reversed to differentiate between the two.
The two keys are wrapped in a red ribbon which binds these two authorities together. The color red is said to symbolized the Jesus' blood and sacrifice which binds the powers together. The three-tiered papal tiara which is positioned above the keys is the traditional attire worn by the pope. There are many interpretations of the meaning behind the three-tiered tiara, however, one popular belief is that the number three represents the Pope's responsibility as a priest, prophet, and king.
Aside from its use as the flag representing the Vatican City, the Papal flag is also flown at Catholic Churches around the world. Typically, the flag is displayed with an indoor presentation set on the stage of the congregation, however, some Roman Catholic Churches also display the flag outdoors on a wall-mount or in-ground pole.
Vatican City National Anthem
Pontifical Anthem and March (Marche Pontificale)
Listen
Lyrics
O happy Rome - O noble Rome
You are the seat of Peter, whose blood was shed in Rome,
Peter, to whom the keys of the kingdom of heaven were given.
Pontiff, You are the successor of Peter;
Pontiff, You are the teacher, you confirm your brethren;
Pontiff, You who are the Servant of the servants of God,
and fisher of men, are the shepherd of the flock,
linking heaven and earth.
Pontiff, You are the vicar of Christ on earth,
a rock amidst the waves, You are a beacon in the darkness;
You are the defender of peace, You are the guardian of unity,
watchful defender of liberty; in You is the authority.
Pontiff, you are the unshakable rock, and on this rock
was built the Church of God.
Pontiff, You are the vicar of Christ on earth,
a rock amidst the waves, You are a beacon in the darkness;
You are the defender of peace, You are the guardian of unity,
watchful defender of liberty; in You is the authority.
O happy Rome - O noble Rome.
Download Papal Flag Images
We offer free images of the Papal Flag in four sizes (small, medium, large, and high resolution). These images are distributed royalty free for both personal and educational use and are ideal for use in projects and on websites. If you choose to use one of our images, attribution is appreciated, but not required.
- Small Icon (PNG, 30x30px)
- Medium Image (PNG, 125x125px)
- Large Image (PNG, 525x525px)
- High Resolution Image (PNG, 3000x3000px)
Add the Papal Flag to your Website:
The following html code snippets can be copied and pasted to add an image of the Papal Flag to your website:
Small Flag Icon
