Pope Francis Issued a New Fundamental Law for the Vatican City State which Permits Laymen and/or Laywomen to be Involved
Pope Francis issued a new fundamental law for the Vatican City State.
The law stipulates a clear separation of roles between the curia and the governorate, the pope remains the sole holder of the legislative, judicial and executive powers. Now, however, lay people can also belong to the papal commission in future
The constitution of the smallest country in the world, published on May 13th, 2023, defines its most important institutions and rules in 24 articles. The Vatican State's "Legge Fondamentale" was last revised in 2000. The first and original version dates from 1929.
For the first time, the new Basic Law clarifies the serving role of the small territorial state of the Vatican for the international subject of international law, the Holy See. The roles of the Holy See (with the Vatican Curia as its organ) and the Vatican State (with the "Governorate" as state government) are clearly separated and codified in the way they have been used for decades.
The Pope remains the sole holder of legislative, judicial and executive powers in Vatican City. He delegates his authority to several institutions. A major innovation is the composition of the leading "Pontifical Commission for the Vatican State". So far it has consisted exclusively of cardinals, but in the future lay people can also belong to it. The Pope appoints its members for a period of five years. The commission interprets the laws of the state, its president is also a kind of head of government and heads the so-called governorate. As before, the judges in the Vatican state are bound by its laws; the Pope's right to pardon those convicted remains intact.
What is new, however, is that the state budget must be balanced and transparent. A three-person control panel created by the Pope for the first time checks in. According to the will of the Pope, the new basic law for the Vatican State will come into force on June 7th.
The law stipulates a clear separation of roles between the curia and the governorate, the pope remains the sole holder of the legislative, judicial and executive powers. Now, however, lay people can also belong to the papal commission in future
The constitution of the smallest country in the world, published on May 13th, 2023, defines its most important institutions and rules in 24 articles. The Vatican State's "Legge Fondamentale" was last revised in 2000. The first and original version dates from 1929.
For the first time, the new Basic Law clarifies the serving role of the small territorial state of the Vatican for the international subject of international law, the Holy See. The roles of the Holy See (with the Vatican Curia as its organ) and the Vatican State (with the "Governorate" as state government) are clearly separated and codified in the way they have been used for decades.
The Pope remains the sole holder of legislative, judicial and executive powers in Vatican City. He delegates his authority to several institutions. A major innovation is the composition of the leading "Pontifical Commission for the Vatican State". So far it has consisted exclusively of cardinals, but in the future lay people can also belong to it. The Pope appoints its members for a period of five years. The commission interprets the laws of the state, its president is also a kind of head of government and heads the so-called governorate. As before, the judges in the Vatican state are bound by its laws; the Pope's right to pardon those convicted remains intact.
What is new, however, is that the state budget must be balanced and transparent. A three-person control panel created by the Pope for the first time checks in. According to the will of the Pope, the new basic law for the Vatican State will come into force on June 7th.
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