The following is a list of flags used in Vatican City and for its predecessor, the Papal States.
National flag and State flag
FlagDateDescription 7 June 1929 – 26 November 2000 Two fields divided vertically, yellow field on the staff side and a white field on the fly side, which bears the tiara and the keys. 26 November 2000 – 7 June 2023 7 June 2023 – present
Papal flags Papal standard FlagDateDescription 1523–1534 Orange and red stripes charged with the coat of arms of Pope Clement VII. 2005–2013 Two fields divided vertically, yellow field on the staff side and a white field on the fly side, which bears Pope Benedict's personal arms. 2013–2023 Two fields divided vertically, yellow field on the staff side and a white field on the fly side, which bears Pope Francis's personal arms. 2023–2025 2025– Two fields divided vertically, yellow field on the staff side and a white field on the fly side, which bears Pope Leo's personal arms.
Papal pennant FlagDateDescription 2005–2013 With a yellow band at the hoist and Pope Benedict's personal arms in color in the white fly. 2013–2023 With a yellow band at the hoist and Pope Francis's personal arms in color in the white fly. 2023–2025 2025– With a yellow band at the hoist and Pope Leo's personal arms in color in the white fly.
Papal banners FlagDateDescription 1922–1939 Papal banner of Pope Pius XI 1939–1958 Papal banner of Pope Pius XII 1958–1963 Papal banner of Pope John XXIII 1963–1978 Papal banner of Pope Paul VI 1978–2005 Papal banner of Pope John Paul II 2005–2013 Papal banner of Pope Benedict XVI 2013–2025 Papal banner of Pope Francis 2025– Papal banner of Pope Leo XIV
Military flag
FlagDateDescription 1978–1982 Papal guard flag of 1914, but with the arms of Pope John Paul II and Commandant Franz Pfyffer von Altishofen 2002–2005 Papal guard flag of 1914, but with the arms of Pope John Paul II and Commandant Elmar Mäder 2005–2008 Papal guard flag of 1914, but with the arms of Pope Benedict XVI and Commandant Elmar Mäder 2008–2013 Papal guard flag of 1914, but with the arms of Benedict XVI and Commandant Daniel Anrig 2013–2015 Papal guard flag of 1914, but with the arms of Pope Francis and Commandant Daniel Anrig 2015–2025 Papal guard flag of 1914, but with the arms of Pope Francis and Commandant Christoph Graf 2025– Papal guard flag of 1914, but with the arms of Pope Leo XIV and Commandant Christoph Graf
Historical flags FlagDateUseDescription Papal naval ensign White flag with a version of the coat of arms of the Holy See between the figures of Saint Peter and Saint Paul. 1300s Banner of Pope Boniface VIII A red swallowtail with two golden keys crossed over an umbraculum of the same colour. 1510s Banner of Pope Leo X An orange swallowtail with seven red roundels. 1520s An orange swallowtail featuring two crossed keys on a white shield. 1520s Flag used by papal military strategist Jacopo Pesaro 1540s Banner of Pope Paul III Dark red swallowtail with the keys and tiara design. 1669–1771 Flag for Papal Ships A red flag with Christ on the cross, surrounded by St. Peter and St. Paul. 1808–1870 Pilot flag, Infantry colours and de-facto civil flagWilliam Becker "Vatican Flags", 2018 Vertical yellow and white bicolour. –1870 War and proto-national flagWilliam Becker "Vatican Flags", 2018 flown over Porta Pia during the fall of Rome (1870) Yellow and white, with simplified coat of arms of the Holy see in the middle 1803–1825 Flag for Papal Merchant Ships A white banner with the keys and tiara in the centre. 1849 Flag of the Roman Republic The Italian tricolour with the phrase DIO E POPOLO(God and People) in the centre. 1825–1870 Flag for Papal Merchant Ships Vertical yellow and white bicolour with the tiara and keys in the center of the white half.
See also Flag of Vatican City Coat of arms of Vatican City History of Christian flags
References
External links