RORATE CÆLI: New Fundamental Law of the Vatican City State, fully replacing Francis' 2023 version

Fundamental Law of Vatican City State

31 July 2026

LEO XIV

The need to take into account new requirements of governance and certain important normative modifications that have occurred over the course of recent years prompts the issuance of a new Fundamental Law.

This Law—which by its nature serves to give a constitutive character to Vatican City State, established by the Lateran Treaty as a tool to ensure the absolute and visible independence of the Holy See and to guarantee its indisputable sovereignty even in the international realm—confirms and integrates the aforementioned modifications.

Placed as the foundation and reference for all other norms and regulations in the State, the Fundamental Law reaffirms the singular peculiarity and autonomy of the Vatican legal system and the task of the Governorate, which contributes to the proper mission of the State and is at the service of the Successor of Peter, to whom it directly answers.

As in the past, to the Governing Bodies and to those who, with different functions of responsibility and animated by a true ecclesial spirit, stably carry out their service for the State, is conferred the exercise of all consequent power within the territory defined by the Lateran Treaty and in the properties and areas where institutions of the State or of the Holy See operate and where, by virtue of international law, personal and functional guarantees and immunities are in force.

Consequently, with the fullness of sovereign authority and certain knowledge, I establish and ordain the following, to be observed as the Fundamental Law of the State:

Title I. General Provisions

Article 1 The Supreme Pontiff, Sovereign of Vatican City State, possesses the fullness of governing power, which includes legislative, executive, and judicial power.

Article 2

1. Vatican City State ensures the absolute and visible independence of the Holy See for the fulfillment of Its high mission in the world and guarantees its indisputable sovereignty even in the international realm.
2. The State and its legal system are distinct from the Roman Curia and from the other Institutions of the Holy See.
3. The proper functions of the State legal system are exercised by the Governorate of Vatican City State in accordance with the laws and other normative provisions.

Article 3

1. During the period of a Vacant See, the College of Cardinals ensures the continuity of the functions of the State and exercises its powers.
2. The College, however, may issue legislative provisions only in cases of necessity and urgency, and with efficacy limited to the duration of the vacancy, unless they are subsequently confirmed by the Supreme Pontiff.

Article 4

1. The State exercises sovereignty and all consequent power over the territory as established by the Lateran Treaty of February 11, 1929.
2. Its bodies likewise exercise the powers attributed to them, not only over the territory of the State but also in the properties and areas where institutions of the State or of the Holy See operate, in which the guarantees and immunities provided for by international law are in force.

Article 5

Citizens, residents, and those who, under another title and with different functions and responsibilities, stably carry out their service with an ecclesial spirit for the State or for the Holy See, form part of the community of the State.

Article 6

1. The representation of Vatican City State in relations with States and with other subjects of international law, in diplomatic relations, and for the conclusion of treaties, is reserved to the Supreme Pontiff, who exercises it through the Secretariat of State.
2. In other cases, representation is exercised by the President of the Governorate.
3. The Governorate participates in the international Institutions of which the Holy See is a member in the name and on behalf of the State.
4. The Governorate, given the enclave condition of the State, maintains relations and signs, with foreign organizations and entities, the acts necessary to ensure supplies, connections, endowments, and public services, with reference to Article 6 of the Lateran Treaty.

Title II. Legislative Function

Article 7

The legislative function, except in cases that the Supreme Pontiff intends to reserve to Himself or exceptionally delegate to another body, is exercised by the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State.

Article 8

1. The Pontifical Commission is composed of Cardinals and other Members, including the President, appointed by the Supreme Pontiff for a five-year term.
2. In the event of the absence or impediment of the President, the Pontifical Commission is presided over by the first of the Cardinal Members with the greatest seniority of appointment and then of age.

Article 9

1. The Pontifical Commission exercises the powers attributed to it in accordance with the laws and other normative provisions.
2. The meetings of the Pontifical Commission are convened and presided over by the President. The Secretary General and, where appointed, the Deputy Secretary General of the Governorate participate with consultative functions; the President of the Pontifical Commission may invite the General Counselor to participate with consultative functions. Members of State bodies, institutions of the Roman Curia, or other experts may be consulted.
3. The Pontifical Commission may regulate its own functioning with a specific regulation.

Article 10

1. The Pontifical Commission approves laws and other normative provisions. For the drafting of the respective projects, it avails itself of the collaboration of the Counselors of the State, the Legal Office of the Governorate, or other experts.
2. Before promulgation, the laws approved by the Pontifical Commission are submitted to the direct consideration of the Supreme Pontiff.
3. The authentic interpretation of the laws of the State is reserved to the Pontifical Commission.
4. The Pontifical Commission issues general regulations in matters that are not reserved to the law, or for the regulation of matters for which the law refers to regulations, establishing their principles.

Article 11

1. The President of the Pontifical Commission may issue ordinances, decrees, and other provisions, in implementation of legislative or regulatory norms.
2. In cases of urgent necessity, the President may issue decrees having the force of law, which, however, lose their efficacy if they are not converted into law by the Pontifical Commission within ninety days of publication.

Article 12

1. The General Counselor and the Counselors of the State are appointed by the Supreme Pontiff for a five-year term and constitute a Board. They may exercise, even individually, consultative functions in the drafting of laws and other normative acts, as well as executive functions.
2. The General Counselor organizes the activity and presides over the meetings of the Board of Counselors of the State.
3. The President of the Governorate may submit to the Board a request for an opinion on a doubt of law that does not require an authentic interpretation. Such opinions may take the form of declarations or explanatory notes.

Article 13

1. The Pontifical Commission, in accordance with the accounting rules, deliberates annually, through acts having the force of law, the budget and the final balance; furthermore, it deliberates the three-year financial plan. It submits these acts directly for the approval of the Supreme Pontiff.
2. The budget ensures the balance of revenues and expenditures and is inspired by the principles of clarity, transparency, and correctness.
3. In case of necessity, the President may, by decree, direct transfers of resources between budget chapters, maintaining the balance of the accounts and taking into account sustainability over time.

Article 14

The budget is subject to the control and accounting audit of a Board, composed of three members, appointed for a three-year term by the Pontifical Commission, to which it reports.

Title III. Executive Function

Article 15

1. The President of the Pontifical Commission is the President of the Governorate and exercises the executive function in accordance with the laws and other normative provisions.
2. The President avails himself of the Governorate, whose governing bodies and agencies contribute to the exercise of the executive function of the State, which is exercised in the areas foreseen by Article 4.
3. Questions of greater importance are submitted by the President, depending on their significance, to the Supreme Pontiff or for the examination of the Pontifical Commission.

Article 16

1. The President of the Governorate ensures the governance of the State, superintends the executive and implementing function of laws and other normative acts, issues the necessary directives for the general organization of the State, defines the guidelines of the administration and for the management of personnel, and coordinates the bodies of the Governorate.
2. The President, who is assisted by the Secretary General and, where appointed, by the Deputy Secretary General, may delegate certain proper executive functions to the Secretary General and the Deputy Secretary General.

Article 17

1. The Secretary General is appointed by the Supreme Pontiff, upon the proposal of the President of the Governorate, for a five-year term.
2. The Secretary General assists the President in the exercise of his functions, implements the directives and provisions of the President and adopts the consequent measures, replaces the President in case of absence or impediment—except with regard to the issuance of provisions having the force of law and the adoption of other normative acts—and oversees the custody and affixes the official seal of the State referred to in Article 20, paragraph 3.
3. For the exercise of his functions, the Secretary General avails himself of the General Secretariat and, where appointed, of the Deputy Secretary General.

Article 18

The Deputy Secretary General, where appointed, collaborates with the President and the Secretary General, performs the other functions assigned to him, and oversees the preparation and drafting of acts and correspondence. He replaces the Secretary General in case of his absence or impediment or by delegation of the same.

Article 19

1. It is the proper and exclusive competence of the State to ensure endowments, infrastructures, services, and supplies, with reference to Article 6 of the Lateran Treaty, for its own needs and those of the Holy See.
2. The Governorate provides for their acquisition, distribution, and provision to the institutions of the State and of the Holy See.

Article 20

1. The organization and functions of the Governorate are regulated by the Law on Government and by regulations adopted by the Pontifical Commission or its President.
2. The Governorate, with its own administrative structure, provides, as its proper and exclusive task which it exercises in the areas foreseen in Article 4: a) for security, public order, and civil protection; b) for the protection of health, sanitation, public hygiene, the environment, and ecology; c) for economic activities, postal, philatelic, and customs services; d) for every connectivity and network infrastructure, building activity, technical, hydraulic, and electrical systems, and their supervision and maintenance; e) for the conservation, enhancement, and enjoyment of the artistic complex of the Vatican Museums, as well as the superintendence over the goods of the entire artistic, historical, archaeological, and ethnographic heritage; f) for any other function provided for by law or other normative provisions.

Article 21

The President of the Governorate, in addition to availing himself of the Gendarmerie Corps, for security and police purposes may request the assistance of the Pontifical Swiss Guard.

Title IV. Judicial Function

Article 22

1. The judicial function is exercised, in the name of the Supreme Pontiff, for judging functions by the Tribunal, the Court of Appeal, and the Supreme Court of Cassation; for investigative and prosecuting functions, by the Office of the Promoter of Justice. The juridical regime of the judicial bodies is established by the Law on the Judicial System.
2. The Supreme Pontiff, in any civil or criminal case and at any stage of the same, may defer its investigation and decision to a particular instance with the exclusion of any other appeal.
3. In applying the law, the judge is inspired by the principle of equity, works for the restoration of justice, and favors reconciliation between the parties. In criminal cases, moreover, the judge imposes the penalty with a view toward the rehabilitation of the offender, their reintegration, and the restoration of the violated legal order.
4. In every trial, the impartiality of the judge, the right of defense, and the adversarial process between the parties are guaranteed.

Article 23

The faculty to grant amnesty, indult, condonation, pardon, and to commute sentences is reserved to the Supreme Pontiff.

Title V. Final Provisions

Article 24

1. The flag of Vatican City State consists of two fields divided vertically, one yellow adjacent to the staff and the other white, and bears on the latter the tiara with the keys, all according to the model that forms Annex A of the present Law.
2. The coat of arms consists of the tiara with the keys according to the model that forms Annex B of the present Law.
3. The seal of the State bears in the center the tiara with the keys and around it the words "Stato della Città del Vaticano" according to the model that forms Annex C of the present Law.

Article 25

1. The present Fundamental Law of Vatican City State entirely replaces the previous one of May 13, 2023.
2. Likewise, all laws, provisions, privileges, and customs, even those worthy of special and singular mention, contrary to the present Law, are abrogated.
3. The Fundamental Law enters into force immediately.

I command that the original of the present Law, bearing the seal of the State, be deposited in the Archive of the Laws of Vatican City State, and that the corresponding text be published first in the daily newspaper L'Osservatore Romano, then in the Supplement of the Acta Apostolicae Sedis, ordering all to whom it pertains to observe it and have it observed.

Given at the Vatican, July 31, 2026, Memorial of St. Ignatius of Loyola, in the second year of my Pontificate.