VATICAN CITY, Pope Leo XIV has promulgated a new Fundamental Law of Vatican City State, replacing the legislation that had been in force since May 2023 and introducing reforms aimed at modernizing the governance and legal framework of the world’s smallest sovereign state.
The new law, signed on July 31, the Memorial of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, took effect immediately upon promulgation.
According to the Vatican, the updated legislation responds to the need to address new governance requirements and incorporates significant legislative reforms introduced in recent years.
One of the most notable changes formally incorporated into the new Fundamental Law concerns the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State, the body responsible for exercising both legislative and executive functions.
The revised legislation confirms the amendment introduced through a Motu Proprio issued in November 2025, which removed the requirement that the Commission’s president must be a cardinal.
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Under the new Article 8, the Commission consists of cardinals and other members, including the president, all appointed by the Pope for a five-year term.
The reform reflects the appointment of Sister Raffaella Petrini, who currently serves as both President of the Pontifical Commission and President of the Governorate of Vatican City State.
The new law reaffirms the Governorate’s responsibility for administering Vatican City State while emphasizing that it remains directly accountable to the Successor of Peter.
It also provides greater clarity regarding the respective responsibilities of the President and the Secretary General, while allowing the office of Secretary General to be held by more than one individual if necessary.
Regarding the judicial system, the Fundamental Law reiterates that Vatican legislation provides the legal framework for the operation of judicial institutions.
The Vatican said previous judicial reforms have strengthened the administration of justice, and the new law confirms those changes within the constitutional framework of the State.
The Holy See described the new Fundamental Law as the constitutional foundation of Vatican City State, reaffirming its unique legal order, institutional autonomy, and governing principles.
The preamble also reiterates that the Governorate exists to serve the mission of the Holy See and the Pope while exercising authority over Vatican territory established under the Lateran Treaty and related international agreements.
The new legislation marks one of the first major constitutional reforms introduced during the pontificate of Pope Leo XIV, consolidating earlier governance changes into a single legal framework.
