Vatican Bank Reinstates Married Couple Dismissed Over Workplace Marriage Rule
A married couple who had been dismissed from the Vatican bank for violating a rule prohibiting workplace marriages has been reinstated following a negotiated settlement. The Vatican lay employees union announced the development on November 12, calling the outcome a positive step toward fairness within Vatican labor practices.
The couple, Silvia Carlucci and Domenico Fabiani, had filed a wrongful termination lawsuit in January, a few months after their wedding. Their dismissal stemmed from a newly introduced internal regulation at the Vatican bank, formally known as the Institute for the Works of Religion, which restricted employees from marrying one another. The rule had been communicated shortly before their wedding took place.
According to the union, the agreement allowing their return to work represents “a victory of common sense.” However, the union did not specify when Carlucci and Fabiani would resume their duties or whether they would return to their previous positions.
Carlucci and Fabiani shared that they had never considered canceling their August 31, 2024 wedding despite learning about the regulation. They explained that the bank had suggested that one of them resign to comply with the rule, but both insisted that financially this was impossible. The couple came to their marriage with three children between them and faced significant financial responsibilities, including support for their children, commitments to former spouses, and payments for a new home mortgage.
The union noted that while the settlement ensures the couple’s reinstatement, the case also revealed shortcomings in the Vatican’s labor governance. The organization expressed concern that Vatican procedures do not allow reimbursement of legal fees even when the employees prevail. It described the situation as one that demonstrated the need for clearer and stronger foundations for labor law within the Vatican system.
In its statement, the union emphasized that there were no support mechanisms in place for the couple during the months they spent contesting their dismissal. It also pointed out that a similar regulation, if applied in Italy, would likely be found unconstitutional due to protections for workers and families under Italian law.
The couple has not yet commented publicly on the settlement. However, they previously shared with The Associated Press that they had hoped the late Pope Francis would intervene, given his long standing advocacy for family life, human dignity, and compassionate treatment of workers.
The outcome of the case has drawn attention to broader questions about labor rights, family protections, and the modernization of workplace policies within the Vatican. The union expressed hope that this case will inspire more transparent and humane employment standards for all lay workers in the future.
