Pope Leo XIV Reforms Vatican Labour Office Statute

Pope Leo XIV has approved a new statute for the Labour Office of the Apostolic See, marking a significant step in the ongoing reform of Vatican governance and internal administration. Issued through a Rescriptum signed on November 25, 2025, the same day as the new General Regulation of the Roman Curia, the measure strengthens the role of the Labour Office, known as ULSA, in promoting and coordinating the working community of the Holy See. The revised statute expands representation within the ULSA Council and introduces a more participatory approach to decision making. It also clarifies the Office’s consultative role in assisting dicasteries and Vatican bodies with labour related regulations. The reform reflects Pope Leo XIV’s sustained attention to employment conditions at the Holy See and to the application of Catholic social teaching in institutional practice, a theme he has emphasized repeatedly since the start of his pontificate.

While confirming all existing competencies of ULSA, including those related to personnel training and welfare, the statute introduces notable structural changes. The Council has been broadened to include, for the first time, representatives from the Secretariat of State, the Vicariate of Rome, the Vatican Pension Fund, and the Fondo Assistenza Sanitaria. These additions aim to improve coordination across Vatican institutions and enhance technical expertise in labour and welfare matters. The statute also allows individual Council members to propose agenda items, replacing the previous requirement for multiple co sponsors. This adjustment is intended to encourage a more synodal working style and foster direct responsibility among participating administrations. At the same time, ULSA is formally tasked with offering technical and consultative assistance to dicasteries when drafting internal regulations in areas not fully defined by general norms.

The statute also reinforces procedures governing labour disputes within the Holy See. Mandatory conciliation before the ULSA Director remains a prerequisite before cases proceed to arbitration or to the Vatican City State Tribunal. A new requirement now obliges lawyers involved in labour disputes to demonstrate specific expertise, with Rota lawyers needing proven knowledge of labour law and civil lawyers required to show familiarity with Vatican law. These provisions aim to strengthen legal professionalism while ensuring coherence with the ecclesial context of Vatican employment. Established in 1988 by Saint John Paul II, ULSA continues to oversee labour matters across the Roman Curia, the Governorate, and other Vatican administrations. The updated statute signals an effort to align institutional efficiency, legal clarity, and social responsibility within the Holy See’s evolving governance framework.