[Italy] Pope Leo XIV strengthens legal protections for Vatican and Holy See employees

In Italy, Pope Leo XIV has approved new labour regulations at the Office of Labour of the Apostolic See (ULSA), the Holy See’s body responsible for managing labour relations for employees working in the Roman Curia, Catholic News Agency reports.

Roman Curia is the Governorate of Vatican City State, and other entities directly administered by the Apostolic See.

The reform was reportedly established through a pontifical rescript signed on November 25. It introduces significant changes to strengthen institutional representation, improve internal coordination, and reiterate the Pope’s care for employees and the application of the Church’s social doctrine.

The document released by ULSA details how labour disputes in the Vatican should be handled, reinforcing protections, procedures, and deadlines for current and former employees of the Holy See.

Its text specifically regulates the chapter dedicated to labour disputes, establishing who can appeal, to which authorities, and within what time frames. It states that anyone who believes they have been harmed by an administrative act in labour matters - unless expressly approved by the pope - may file a complaint with ULSA or take it to the Vatican judicial authority.

It does reportedly emphasise that attempting conciliation with the ULSA director is a mandatory condition, an indispensable requirement before pursuing any other course of action.

The text also specifies that, when required by the internal regulations of each administration, the employee must first exhaust all internal remedies, or their claim will be deemed inadmissible. Only after completing this process can the procedure before ULSA or the courts of Vatican City State be initiated.

Individual or collective labour disputes will preferably be resolved through conciliation mechanisms, and only in case of failure will they be referred to the ULSA Conciliation and Arbitration Board or the Vatican court. 

The system reportedly prioritises solutions through dialogue before resorting to legal action.

The document also establishes a five-year statute of limitations for rights arising from the employment relationship. However, it clarifies that filing a request for conciliation interrupts this period until official notification of the document that concludes this phase.

Matters falling under the jurisdiction of the Disciplinary Commissions established in the general regulations of the various Vatican administrations are excluded from this procedure.

The statute stipulates that the appeal must be filed within 30 days of notification, or actual knowledge, of the contested act. The same deadline applies after a negative decision on an internal appeal or in the case of administrative silence, if the administration fails to respond within the prescribed time.

In addition, the text details the formal requirements of the claim, which must reportedly include the claimant’s personal data, the identification of the administration involved, and the act being challenged, together with the necessary elements to permit proper processing of the case.

Source: Catholic News Agency

In Italy, Pope Leo XIV has approved new labour regulations at the Office of Labour of the Apostolic See (ULSA), the Holy See’s body responsible for managing labour relations for employees working in the Roman Curia, Catholic News Agency reports.

Roman Curia is the Governorate of Vatican City State, and other entities directly administered by the Apostolic See.

The reform was reportedly established through a pontifical rescript signed on November 25. It introduces significant changes to strengthen institutional representation, improve internal coordination, and reiterate the Pope’s care for employees and the application of the Church’s social doctrine.

The document released by ULSA details how labour disputes in the Vatican should be handled, reinforcing protections, procedures, and deadlines for current and former employees of the Holy See.

Its text specifically regulates the chapter dedicated to labour disputes, establishing who can appeal, to which authorities, and within what time frames. It states that anyone who believes they have been harmed by an administrative act in labour matters - unless expressly approved by the pope - may file a complaint with ULSA or take it to the Vatican judicial authority.

It does reportedly emphasise that attempting conciliation with the ULSA director is a mandatory condition, an indispensable requirement before pursuing any other course of action.

The text also specifies that, when required by the internal regulations of each administration, the employee must first exhaust all internal remedies, or their claim will be deemed inadmissible. Only after completing this process can the procedure before ULSA or the courts of Vatican City State be initiated.

Individual or collective labour disputes will preferably be resolved through conciliation mechanisms, and only in case of failure will they be referred to the ULSA Conciliation and Arbitration Board or the Vatican court. 

The system reportedly prioritises solutions through dialogue before resorting to legal action.

The document also establishes a five-year statute of limitations for rights arising from the employment relationship. However, it clarifies that filing a request for conciliation interrupts this period until official notification of the document that concludes this phase.

Matters falling under the jurisdiction of the Disciplinary Commissions established in the general regulations of the various Vatican administrations are excluded from this procedure.

The statute stipulates that the appeal must be filed within 30 days of notification, or actual knowledge, of the contested act. The same deadline applies after a negative decision on an internal appeal or in the case of administrative silence, if the administration fails to respond within the prescribed time.

In addition, the text details the formal requirements of the claim, which must reportedly include the claimant’s personal data, the identification of the administration involved, and the act being challenged, together with the necessary elements to permit proper processing of the case.

Source: Catholic News Agency