The Vatican City 2018 standard 2 euro coin features the official portrait of Pope Francis, who has served as the head of the Roman Catholic Church and the sovereign of Vatican City State since 2013. This design, which remains consistent across the standard circulation series, depicts the profile of the pontiff facing to the left. Surrounding the portrait are the words 'Città del Vaticano' and the year of issue, framed by the twelve stars of the European Union. By placing the image of the reigning Pope on its currency, the Vatican reaffirms its unique status as an independent city-state and the spiritual centre of the Catholic faith. This specific issue was released within the annual coin sets for 2018.