New safeguards for employees of the Holy See

By Vatican News

Clearer rules, more balanced procedures, and more effective safeguards are at the heart of a new Rescriptum ex Audientia Sanctissimi (rescript from an audience with the Holy Father) dated October 19, 2026, by which Pope Leo XIV approved amendments to the regulations governing personnel attached of the Roman Curia (Regolamento del Personale della Curia Romana), which entered into force on January 1st of this year. While these matters might, at first glance, appear to be of interest only to legal experts, they actually concern essential aspects of the employment relationship: the correct identification of the competent authority, the time allotted to an employee to present their defence in disciplinary procedures, and the right to access adequate legal assistance.

Clearer rules, better-defined responsibilities

The first amendment concerns Article 62 of the Regulations and clarifies the division of authority regarding the imposition of suspension from service. The policy distinguishes between two scenarios: a suspension lasting no more than thirty days, and a more serious case, which can range from thirty-one days up to three months. The previous wording could lead to uncertainty regarding which authority was empowered to issue such measures. The amendment approved by the Holy Father resolves this issue by specifying that a suspension of up to thirty days falls under the authority of the Head of the Office (Capo Ente), while a suspension for a longer duration is reserved for the Disciplinary Commission of the Roman Curia. This is more than just a formal clarification; clearly defining respective areas of authority helps to avoid overlapping responsibilities and potential disputes over interpretation.

More time and better tools to exercise the right to a defence

Significant amendments have been made to Article 68, which concerns the guarantees afforded to an employee during the investigative phase of disciplinary proceedings. The previous wording allowed for a ten-day period to submit justifications, whereas the Disciplinary Commission’s own regulations provided for a longer, fifteen-day period. This discrepancy created practical difficulties and, in some instances, even led to the nullification of proceedings due to the infringement of the right to a defence. The new regulations harmonize these timeframes, establishing a fifteen-day period for the submission of justifications in cases that proceed to the Disciplinary Commission. In the same vein, another innovation has been introduced: the right to be assisted by a lawyer chosen from either the Corps of Lawyers of the Holy See or the Register of Lawyers of the Roman Curia. The principle underlying these changes is simple yet essential: the exercise of authority and the protection of rights are not conflicting requirements, but rather complementary dimensions of a just and balanced legal system.

Human dignity at the heart of institutions

Beyond their strictly regulatory content, the provisions approved by Pope Leo XIV carry a significance that merits consideration from a broader perspective. Given its unique nature and mission, the Holy See’s workforce is called upon to reconcile the demands of organizational structure and institutional accountability with the principles that inform the Church’s social doctrine. In this context, the protection of the worker is not merely an ancillary aspect of administrative organization, but a concrete expression of the recognition of human dignity. It is an approach rooted in the magisterium of Pope Leo XIV, who, in the encyclical Magnifica humanitas, highlights the infinite and inalienable dignity of every human being, regardless of the circumstances or conditions in which they may find themselves.