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Although the Holy See is closely associated with the State of the City of the Vatican, the independent, sovereign state governed by the Holy See, the two entities are in fact separate and distinct. The Holy See administers the Vatican City, including all diplomatic functions; foreign embassies are accredited to the Holy See rather than to the Vatican City, and the Holy See establishes diplomatic agreements ("Concordats") with other sovereign states, on behalf both of itself and of the Vatican City (as appropriate). Generally speaking, the Holy See is a party on its own behalf to treaties of Ecclesiastical interest, and a party on the Vatican City's behalf to treaties of technical significance (e.g., regarding co-operation with Italy).

Because the Holy See comprises more than simply the Pontificate, it does not dissolve upon the death or resignation of the reigning Pope; in contrast, the heads of the dicasteries of the Roman Curia (such as the prefects of congregations) cease to hold office immediately upon the Pope's death. During a Sede Vacante -- that is, the interregnum occurring between the Pope's death and the election of his successor -- the government of the Holy See (and therefore of the Catholic Church) falls to the Chamberlain of the Holy Roman Church, the prelate appointed by the Pope to administer the temporalities (i.e., properties and finances) of the Holy See; canon law prohibits the Cardinal Chamberlain from introducing any innovations or novelties in the government of the Church during this period. The head of the Apostolic Penitentiary (normally a cardinal, called the Major Penitentiary) also remains in office during the period of Sede vacante.

The Holy See is also called the " Apostolic SeeIn the several centuries following the founding of Christianity, five particular cities and centers of Christianity were considered to be the Apostolic Sees . The Churches in each of these cities was considered Apostolic because it was founded (at least a", although this name properly refers to any of five sees founded by an ApostleAlternate meaning: See Apostle (Mormonism The Christian Apostles were Jewish men who were "sent forth" (as indicated by the Greek word apostolos , by Jesus to preach Christianity to both Jews and Gentiles, across the world. He called unto him his disciple; the five Apostolic Sees, all of which are of patriarchSee Patriarchs (Bible) for details about Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob of the Book of Genesis in the Hebrew Bible. Originally a patriarch is a man who exercises autocratic authority over an extended family. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are referred to as the threal rank are (in descending order of precedence): Rome ( Ss. Peter and PaulSaint Paul or Paul of Tarsus, is a Christian saint who has lent his name to a number of places and things: Buildings and institutions Churches St Paul's Cathedral in London, England, designed by Christopher Wren St Paul's Cathedral (Macau) in Macau St Pau), ConstantinopleConstantinople (Roman name: Constantinopolis; Greek: Konstantinoupolis or ) is the former name of the city of Istanbul in Turkey. Its original name was Byzantium ( Greek: Byzantion or Bυζαντιο&nu pronounced roughly B ( St. Andrew), Antioch (St. Peter), Alexandria ( St. Mark), and Jerusalem ( Saint James the Great). Aside from Rome, the archiepiscopal See of Mainz, which was also of electoral and primatial rank, is the only other see referred to as the "Holy See", although this usage is rather less common.