Vatikan je sjedište pape, i teritorija je Svete Stolice, središnje vlasti Rimokatoličke crkve. In September 2011, a submission was lodged with the International Criminal Court alleging that the Pope, Cardinal Angelo Sodano dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone Vatican Secretary of State and Cardinal William Levada head of the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith, had committed a crime against humanity by failing to prevent or punish perpetrators of rape and sexual violence in a \"systematic and widespread\" concealment which included failure to co-operate with relevant law enforcement agencies.[165] In a statement to the Associated Press, the Vatican described this as a \"ludicrous publicity stunt and a misuse of international judicial processes.\"