Pope Leo XIV has promulgated a new Fundamental Law for Vatican City State, which entirely replaces the one approved on May 13, 2023 and enters into force immediately. The new text adapts the regulations to the reforms introduced in recent years and incorporates, among other novelties, the possibility that the presidency of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State is not reserved exclusively to a cardinal, a change that allowed the appointment of Sister Raffaella Petrini to head the Governatorate.
According to the preamble of the law, the reform responds to the need to «take into account new requirements of governance and some important normative modifications introduced in the course of recent years.» The new norm gathers in a single text the modifications approved since the entry into force of the previous Fundamental Law.
The reform that consolidated the appointment of Sister Raffaella Petrini
The main novelty incorporated into the new text is the reform introduced through the Motu Proprio of November 19, 2025, with which Leo XIV eliminated the requirement that the president of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State necessarily be a cardinal.
The new Fundamental Law now establishes that this body will be composed of «cardinals and other members, including the president,» all of them appointed by the Roman Pontiff for a five-year term. In this way, the modification is integrated in a stable manner into the fundamental norm of the Vatican State.
The Pontifical Commission exercises the legislative function of the State and its president also holds the position of president of the Governatorate, responsible for the administration and executive function of Vatican City State.
Update of the functioning of the State
In addition to incorporating this reform, the new Fundamental Law updates various aspects of the institutional organization of the Vatican State.
In the executive sphere, it specifies the competencies of the president of the Governatorate and the secretary general, as well as the collaboration between both, while reaffirming the role of the Governatorate as the body in charge of the administration of the State at the service of the Successor of Peter.
In the judicial sphere, it confirms that the organization and functioning of the courts continue to be governed by the Law on the judicial system, adapted through the reforms approved in recent years.
Replaces the 2023 law
The new Fundamental Law maintains the basic structure of Vatican City State and reaffirms that its purpose is to guarantee the independence of the Holy See and its sovereignty in the international sphere, in accordance with what is established by the Lateran Pacts.
The text, signed by Leo XIV on July 31, the liturgical memorial of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, entirely repeals the Fundamental Law promulgated on May 13, 2023 and becomes from now on the reference norm of the legal system of the Vatican State.