An internal survey promoted by the Associazione Dipendenti Laici Vaticani (ADLV) has put figures to a malaise that has been circulating in the corridors of the Holy See for years: institutional fatigue, distrust toward superiors, and a sense of injustice in personnel management. The poll—conducted between September 2025 and January 2026—collects responses from 250 employees and paints an uncomfortable picture for an institution that, in theory, should be exemplary in applying the Church’s Social Doctrine.
Although the number of responses is small compared to the total number of employees, the report itself highlights a revealing fact: many workers do not participate out of fear of reprisals, in a system where traditional unions do not exist and the right to strike is not allowed, precisely on the grounds that everyone shares the Church’s “mission.”
Gap with superiors and “non-transparent” appointments
The most repeated finding is the perception of distance between employees and management. Nearly three out of four respondents describe a clear gap with those who lead offices and dicasteries, and only a minority say they are satisfied with that relationship.
That fracture is compounded by direct criticism of the way leaders are chosen: 71.6% believe that bosses were not selected through transparent procedures or a clear professional path. The result, according to the poll, is a climate where the perception of arbitrariness weighs more heavily than trust in merit and service criteria.
“Merit is not rewarded”: human resources poorly managed
More than 75% claim that human resources are poorly allocated, undervalued, and unmotivated; and 75.8% say that initiative, merit, and experience receive no recognition. In such an environment, the problem ceases to be merely “organizational” and becomes, in the eyes of employees, a matter of justice.
Humiliations, favoritism, and insecurity about rights
The poll also collects a particularly delicate finding: more than 56% report having suffered unfair treatment or humiliating behavior from superiors. Zenit adds that the Vatican legal framework does not formally recognize workplace harassment as a specific offense, which would increase the sense of helplessness.
In parallel, nearly 73.4% perceive favoritism and unequal treatment, as well as uncertainty about rights protection, including issues related to pensions.
The economic factor: the suspension of salary increases
Among the most concrete complaints is the suspension of the biennial salary increase, abolished in 2021 as an austerity measure to address the deficit. According to the article, this has had lasting effects on pensions and end-of-service compensations (TFR), fueling resentment and insecurity.
The contrast: Sprizzi questions the scope and speaks of a “minimal sample”
The Apostolic See’s Labor Office (ULSA) has responded to the malaise reflected in a recent survey by the Vatican Lay Employees Association (ADLV), in which a group of workers denounces “discontent, injustice, and lack of trust” in the work environment of some Vatican bodies. In an interview granted to Vatican News, its president, Monsignor Marco Sprizzi, states that the body’s objective is clear: “we work so that there are no situations in which employees’ rights are ignored or violated.”
Sprizzi, says he has taken note of the survey, but emphasizes that, technically, it is a “very small” sample compared to the total number of employees. Even so, he maintains that even if it were a single complaint, it must be heard and evaluated.
He also rejects the reading of a generalized climate: he assures that, based on his experience in meetings with employees, the dominant sentiment would be “rather positive,” although he acknowledges that there are problems that “absolutely” require improvement, such as salary adjustments according to functions. In addition, he states that if abuses exist, they must be reported and verified, recalling the moral priority of labor justice from Rerum Novarum.
A prudent expectation ahead of Leo XIV
In this context, the arrival of Leo XIV appears as a new element. The ADLV interprets some initial gestures as positive signals: attention to the labor tribunal, recovery of the conclave “bonus,” and a willingness to open a path of dialogue. For many employees, these would be modest but symbolic moves that could mark a change in tone after years of a rough relationship with the administration.
And perhaps the most significant aspect of the poll is not the economic claims, but the underlying message: workers ask to be treated as persons, listened to, and protected with dignity, returning to the institution itself the mirror of its social teaching.