New Regulations of the Roman Curia were published by the Vatican. Pope Leo XIV approved the publication of the new regulations. The regulations implement the reform from the Apostolic Constitution "Praedicate Evangelium." The new regulations apply to the Institutions and Offices of the Roman Curia, including the Secretariat of State and various bodies. The new regulations replace those approved in 1999 by Pope John Paul II.
20 days ago
Pope Leo XIV has approved and promulgated two key documents: the General Regulation of the Roman Curia and the General Regulation of Personnel.1 These were signed on November 23, 2025, and published on November 24, 2025, with an effective date of January 1, 2026.2 They build directly on the reforms outlined in Pope Francis's Apostolic Constitution Praedicate Evangelium from March 19, 2022.1 2
The regulations apply to core Vatican institutions, including the Secretariat of State, dicasteries, judicial bodies, and economic entities.1 They also extend to personnel in connected Holy See organizations.1 Presented as provisional for five years, they aim to foster a more unified and missionary-oriented administration.2
These new rules replace the regulations established by Pope John Paul II on April 15, 1999, which took effect on July 1 of that year.1 The 1999 framework addressed an earlier era but lacked provisions for modern challenges like digital operations and financial transparency.2 Pope Francis's Praedicate Evangelium provided the structural foundation, which Leo XIV now implements through detailed administrative norms.1 2
The reforms emphasize continuity with Francis's vision while adapting to contemporary needs.2 They mark a transition toward a Curia focused on pastoral service rather than bureaucratic autonomy.2
The General Regulation promotes coordination across Curial bodies through standardized practices.2 A minimum 36-hour work week is mandated for all institutions, alongside regular meetings led by the Secretary of State to align activities.2 This aims to transform the Curia from isolated "fiefdoms" into a cohesive service entity.2
Leadership roles, such as dicastery prefects and secretaries, are limited to five-year terms appointed by the Pope.2 The regulations incorporate innovations from Praedicate Evangelium to enhance overall efficiency.1
Strict anti-nepotism measures prohibit employing close relatives of current staff.2 Hiring prioritizes professional competence, commitment to the Catholic faith, moral integrity, and a clean criminal record, applying to both clergy and laity.2 Lay employees begin with probationary contracts of one to two years.2
Transparency requires senior officials to submit biennial declarations on assets, barring offshore holdings or investments conflicting with Catholic teaching.2 Violations, including false declarations, constitute serious disciplinary offenses.2 Confidentiality rules limit unauthorized public statements or interviews.2
Labor protections include three months of maternity leave before and after birth, plus 158 hours of annual vacation.2 Disciplinary actions range from warnings to termination for intentional misconduct.2
Retirement ages are now standardized across departments.2 Heads of entities and clerical secretaries retire at 75, lay equivalents at 70, and subsecretaries or religious institute members at 72.2 All Curial body members conclude service at 80, aligning with conclave voting age limits.2
These changes address previous inconsistencies and promote renewal in Vatican staffing.2
The regulations frame Curial work as ecclesial and missionary service, not mere bureaucracy.2 They seek to professionalize the workforce while ensuring spiritual alignment with the Church's global mission.2 Full texts are available in Italian via official Vatican links.1
Implementation success depends on cultural shifts among clergy and laity, beyond mere compliance.2 Observers note this as a step toward a more accountable Vatican, though challenges in enforcement remain.2
Reform of Roman Curia governance under Pope Leo XIV
Pope Leo XIV, elected in May 2025 following the death of Pope Francis, has approached the governance of the Roman Curia with a commitment to continuity and refinement, building on the foundational reforms of Praedicate Evangelium (2022). This apostolic constitution, promulgated by his predecessor, restructured the Curia to emphasize missionary service, synodality, and transparency, replacing the earlier Pastor Bonus (1988). Under Leo XIV, early initiatives focus on consolidating financial oversight, clarifying institutional roles, and ensuring ethical standards, reflecting a governance model that prioritizes the common good and fidelity to the Church's evangelizing mission. While comprehensive structural overhauls have not yet been announced in his first months, his motu proprio Coniuncta cura (September 2025) exemplifies targeted adjustments to enhance accountability in economic matters, aligning with the Curia's role as an instrument of the Pope's pastoral authority. These efforts underscore a Curia oriented toward service rather than bureaucracy, adapting to contemporary challenges like financial transparency and inter-institutional collaboration.
The Roman Curia's governance has undergone significant evolution since Vatican II, with Regimini Ecclesiae Universae (1967) introducing a general regulation to standardize operations across dicasteries. This was refined in Pastor Bonus, which established common norms (Ordo servandus) for transacting business, emphasizing procedural discipline. However, Pope Francis' Praedicate Evangelium marked a paradigm shift, defining the Curia as an entity "at the service of the Pope... and of the Bishops" for the "good and service of communion, unity and the building up of the universal Church." It introduced key principles: the Curia comprises the Secretariat of State, dicasteries, and other institutions of equal juridical status; each must have its own Ordo servandus approved by the Pope; and general norms apply unless contradicted by specific statutes.
Transitional provisions in Praedicate Evangelium mandated adaptation of existing regulations, including the General Regulation of the Roman Curia, to align with these norms, abrogating Pastor Bonus effective June 2022. Pope Leo XIV inherits this framework, which decentralizes authority, promotes lay involvement, and integrates economic supervision under bodies like the Council for the Economy. His governance reforms thus operate within this synodal ethos, avoiding wholesale restructuring in favor of precise interventions. For instance, the 2024 motu proprio Munus Tribunalis—issued under Francis but effective into Leo XIV's pontificate—updated the Apostolic Signatura's procedures by replacing "Dicasteries" with "Istituzioni curiali" to reflect Praedicate Evangelium's terminology, resolving competence conflicts through expeditious congressional review. This linguistic and procedural precision ensures the Curia's institutions function cohesively, a principle Leo XIV upholds in his own documents.
A cornerstone of Leo XIV's early pontificate is the reinforcement of financial integrity, addressing vulnerabilities exposed in prior audits and scandals. The motu proprio Coniuncta cura (29 September 2025) abrogates the 2022 Rescriptum ex Audientia on financial administration, streamlining investment activities of the Holy See. It mandates that such activities, governed by Article 219 of Praedicate Evangelium, conform to the Investment Committee's policies, with the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See (APSA) leveraging the Institute for the Works of Religion (IOR)'s internal structure unless external intermediaries prove more efficient. This fosters "corresponsabilità nella communio" (shared responsibility in communion), a principle rooted in Praedicate Evangelium, by defining roles among curial institutions like APSA, the IOR, and the Secretariat for the Economy. By consulting the Council for the Economy and experts, Leo XIV ensures decisions promote mutual collaboration, preventing silos and enhancing the Curia's missionary efficacy through prudent stewardship.
Transparency provisions, embedded in the General Regulation of the Roman Curia, receive implicit endorsement under Leo XIV through continuity with Francis-era norms. A 2021 motu proprio amended Article 40 to prohibit accepting gifts over €40 related to office, curbing conflicts of interest. Similarly, Article 13b requires biennial declarations from personnel (including cardinals and jurisdictional officials) attesting to no criminal convictions, no ties to high-risk jurisdictions for money laundering, and assets compliant with Church social doctrine—exemptions apply only for family, work, or study reasons in such areas. These apply to levels C through C3 and extend to Vatican City State entities via a 90-day adaptation mandate. Leo XIV's financial motu proprio builds on this by centralizing oversight, ensuring the Curia's economic functions serve evangelization without ethical lapses. The 2020 rescript on competencies further clarifies that the Secretariat of State avoids overlapping with APSA or the Secretariat for the Economy in financial matters, promoting "transparent and efficient management." Under Leo XIV, these layers create a governance ecosystem where fiscal responsibility bolsters the Curia's credibility.
Leo XIV's approach extends beyond finance to ethical and procedural harmony. The Chirograph instituting the Apostleship of the Sea as a coordination body (6 November 2025) respects prior motu proprio like Stella Maris (1997), illustrating how curial entities integrate without supplanting existing norms. This mirrors Praedicate Evangelium's call for each institution's Ordo servandus to align with general regulations. In competence disputes, the updated Article 105 of the Apostolic Signatura's lex propria directs resolution in congressu after hearing parties and the Promoter of Justice, emphasizing speed and equity. Such mechanisms prevent jurisdictional friction, vital for a Curia assisting the Pope's "supreme pastoral office."
Ethically, Leo XIV's messages—such as to the Pontifical Academy for Life on AI and medicine (7 November 2025)—reinforce the Curia's role in safeguarding human dignity, indirectly shaping governance by prioritizing moral oversight in emerging fields. While not a direct reform, this signals a Curia attuned to global challenges, where institutions like the Dicastery for Communication or the Secretariat of State coordinate responses.
Though Leo XIV's tenure is nascent, sources indicate no major divergences from Praedicate Evangelium, but rather refinements amid the 2025 Jubilee Year. Potential areas for expansion include adapting the General Regulation to post-Praedicate realities, as transitional norms require. Controversies from prior administrations, like financial opacity, are addressed through Leo XIV's emphasis on shared responsibility, though full implementation depends on institutional buy-in. Where sources like the 2021 transparency motu proprio predate his papacy, their persistence under Leo XIV affirms stability. If unaddressed gaps emerge—such as detailed updates to the General Regulation—further motu proprio may follow, ensuring the Curia remains a "lifeline" for the Church's mission.
In summary, Pope Leo XIV's reforms to Roman Curia governance emphasize ethical financial management, institutional clarity, and synodal collaboration, faithfully extending Praedicate Evangelium's vision. These steps fortify the Curia as a servant of the Gospel, responsive to the world's needs while upholding transparency and unity.