Déo Juvante, which means ‘With God’s help’ in Latin, are not just words in Monaco, but the national motto of the Principality and the Princely Family. It dates back to the 13th century when the territory of the present-day Monaco was conquered by François Grimaldi, the founder of the ruling dynasty. Although Monaco enjoys the well-established reputation of a secular state today, only a few of its guests know this is not exactly so. The Principality of Monaco is one of the few European countries to have an official religion – the Roman Catholic Apostolic Church is proclaimed to be the state religion according to the Constitution.
