(ZENIT News / Vatican City, 10.31.2026).- The Vatican is tightening the rules governing its own workforce, with Pope Leo XIV approving changes that give Curia employees stronger guarantees when facing serious disciplinary action, including prolonged suspension or dismissal. The reform clarifies who has authority to impose sanctions, extends the time available to respond to allegations and explicitly recognizes the right to legal assistance.
The amendments were approved by the Pope on October 19 through a decree signed by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State. Announced by the Holy See on October 30, they modify three provisions of the Regulations for Personnel of the Roman Curia, which came into force on January 1. The new rules will take effect following their publication in L’Osservatore Romano and subsequent inclusion in the Acta Apostolicae Sedis, the Holy See’s official collection of documents.
One of the principal changes concerns the division of responsibility between the heads of Vatican departments and the Curia’s Disciplinary Commission. Under the revised rules, a department head may impose a suspension of up to 30 days without first referring the matter to the Commission. If a proposed suspension exceeds that limit, the Commission must become involved. Its intervention is also required when dismissal is being considered.
The distinction is intended to make the disciplinary system more straightforward, avoiding uncertainty over which authority is responsible for a particular sanction. It also preserves a degree of institutional oversight in cases carrying more serious consequences for an employee’s professional future.
The reform is particularly significant in strengthening the right of defense. Previously, employees generally had ten days after notification of alleged misconduct to submit their explanations. The revised provision maintains that period for ordinary cases but grants 15 days when the allegations could lead to suspension exceeding 30 days or dismissal.
In such proceedings, employees may also be assisted by a lawyer chosen from among members of the Holy See’s Bar Association or the Roman Curia’s Bar Association. Department heads who consider that a sanction of this severity is warranted must refer the case to the Disciplinary Commission and inform the employee both of the measure being pursued and of the possibility of obtaining legal representation.
The changes address more than procedural technicalities. The regulations governing the Commission had provided for a 15-day period to present a defense, while the personnel rules allowed only ten days. According to the material accompanying the reform, this discrepancy had created difficulties in applying the rules and, in some cases, had led to proceedings being annulled because the employee’s right of defense had not been respected. The new provisions seek to bring the procedures into line.
The timing also places the decision within a broader discussion about working conditions inside the Holy See. On October 5, Leo XIV received Vatican employees who had presented requests for salary increases. Although he announced no specific financial measures, he emphasized the dignity of work, the importance of recognizing each employee’s abilities and contribution, and the need to resolve workplace difficulties through dialogue.
The Pope is paying closer attention to the institutional responsibilities owed to those who work for the Holy See. Fair treatment cannot be measured solely in salaries or benefits; it also depends on whether authority is exercised according to clear rules and whether employees have a meaningful opportunity to defend themselves.
The reform does not remove the possibility of serious sanctions or weaken the responsibility of Vatican officials to maintain professional standards. Rather, it seeks to ensure that decisions with potentially far-reaching consequences are taken through a more consistent procedure, with adequate time and legal assistance for those affected. In that sense, the changes offer a practical test of a principle the Church frequently invokes: the dignity of the person must also shape the way its own institutions operate.
Thank you for reading our content. If you would like to receive ZENIT’s daily e-mail news, you can subscribe for free through this link.
Publicaciones relacionadas:
Why did Pope Leo give 500 euros to each Vatican employee?
Pope Leo XIV’s warm words to his army and a challenge: may they be a message of unity for the entire Roman Curia
The traditional Latin Mass celebrated in St. Peter’s Basilica marks a new chapter under the pontificate of Pope Leo XIV
“The Lord never abandons us”: the Pope’s reflection at the close of the month dedicated to the Virgin Mary
