Pope Leo XIV Approves Updated Roman Curia Regulations Effective 2026

VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo XIV has formally endorsed new General and Personnel Regulations for the Roman Curia, set to take effect on January 1, 2026. These reforms align the internal operations of Vatican bodies with the apostolic constitution Praedicate Evangelium, which was promulgated by Pope Francis in 2022.

The revised regulations, approved "ad experimentum" for a provisional period of five years, aim to enhance an ecclesiastical service characterized by pastoral and missionary priorities. A landmark change is the shift in language policy; whereas Latin was historically the default for drafting internal documents, the new rules permit the use of Latin or other languages such as Italian, English, or Spanish, reflecting the diverse linguistic background of Curia personnel and the Vatican’s leadership.

The document also enforces stringent measures to curb nepotism within Vatican offices. It bans the employment of close relatives up to the fourth degree by blood and relatives by marriage up to the second degree within the same entity. Additionally, recruitment standards emphasize virtues including prudence, knowledge, and relevant experience.

For lay staff, initial appointments will feature a probationary period lasting no less than one year and not exceeding two years. Following this probation, employment must either be registered as permanent or terminated.

Financial integrity is reinforced through mandatory biennial declarations by senior officials and managers, confirming the absence of ownership in tax havens and prohibiting investments in sectors contrary to the Church’s social teaching, such as arms manufacturing or the abortion industry. Failure to comply or submission of false information constitutes a grave disciplinary violation.

Employment terms within the Curia are also standardized. The minimum workweek is set at 36 hours. Maternity leave starts three months prior to the expected birth and continues for three months postpartum, with total annual leave set at 158 hours. Staff members are required to maintain strict confidentiality and may only issue public statements with prior authorization.

Retirement protocols are uniformly established: heads of dicasteries must retire at 75, lay employees at 70, ecclesiastical and religious undersecretaries at 72, and all positions automatically terminate by age 80.

These regulatory updates reflect the Vatican’s ongoing efforts to modernize governance structures while preserving the spiritual mission of the Roman Curia.