eli5 why is Vatican city independent even though it’s barely visible in a map?

Question

eli5 why is Vatican city independent even though it’s barely visible in a map?

In: 6

Answer 1

Partially because size does not determine a nation’s sovereignty. There’s a whole category of states called micronations that exist usually within the borders of a larger country. Sometimes their independence is disputed but it’s mostly down to the will of the citizens versus that of the parent country to control them.