What is the name of the Vatican City national anthem adopted in 1950?

The Vatican City national anthem adopted in 1950 is “Inno e Marcia Pontificale,” also called the Pontifical Anthem.

Charles Gounod composed the music for the anthem, which was first performed in 1869 to mark the golden sacerdotal jubilee of Pope Pius IX. The Vatican later adopted Gounod’s composition as its official anthem on 16 October 1950, during the pontificate of Pope Pius XII.

The anthem has no official lyrics in its principal ceremonial use. Separate texts have been written or translated for special contexts, but the Vatican’s official anthem is fundamentally a musical work.

The title is Italian and means “Hymn and Pontifical March.” It is distinct from hymns associated with the Catholic Church or the papacy, which may be used in religious services without being the state anthem.