New Vatican (Rome)

The New Vatican is a religious faction residing in the Catacombs of Callixtus in post apocalyptic Rome.

Formation
After the Cataclysm, the surviving members of the Vatican took refuge at the Castel Sant'Angelo, Under the Cardinal Camerlengo Ferdinando Albani, the survivors became the New Vatican, which eventually moved to the Catacombs of Saint Callixtus. The New Vatican shares the territory of the catacombs with the City Council.

Current
After 20 years in the catacombs, the New Vatican is slowly losing its influence and power within the Catacombs to the City Council and the Mori family. The reason for this loss is that the New Vatican has no official leader. The last Pope was killed at the beginning of the Cataclysm, and the Church has been left in a state of Sede vacante, Rome without a Pope. The new Pope could not be elected, since Cardinal Albani was the only cardinal left in the Vatican, and therefore could not call a conclave to elect a new pope. However, after receiving information that another surviving cardinal who could help lead the Catholic Church is being held captive in Venice, Albani organizes a detachment of Swiss guards to investigate under the leadership of Captain Durand.

Economy
In the New Vatican, the main currency is the Vatican lira, printed by the Vatican Mint. However, the Vatican Lira is hardly used except as formal gifts. Most residents use pre-war consumables like tobacco, coffee and alcohol. They are often exchanged because they are valuable as they are irreplaceable. Whiskey is particularly popular as it can still be drunk after twenty years.

Military
The New Vatican has Swiss Guards as its military. There are 35 Swiss Guards in the New Vatican who are well with night vision devices, flashlights, gas masks , and various weapons such as M4 carbines and "Schmeisser" MP 38/40 submachine guns found after the war.

Appearances
The New Vatican only appears in the novel The Roots of Heaven.