Leo XIV issues new Fundamental Law of Vatican City State

Pope Leo XIV issued a new Fundamental Law of Vatican City State Friday, replacing a previous version adopted in 2023.

In a preamble to the new document, which was issued only in Italian July 31, Leo XIV explained that the constitutional framework of Vatican City State needed to be updated “to take into account new requirements of governance and several important legislative changes introduced over recent years.”

He said that the new version of the Fundamental Law confirmed and integrated the changes.

The Fundamental Law of Vatican City State was first issued by Pope Pius XI in 1929, following the state’s creation under the Lateran Treaty, signed by Italy and the Holy See.

Pope St. John Paul II promulgated a new version of the Fundamental Law in 2000, which was revised by Pope Francis in 2023.

The new text, which goes into effect immediately, consists of 25 articles, one more than in the previous version.

The latest document has a new Article 16, which specifies the duties of the president of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State, Vatican City’s legislative body under