Apostolic Letter in the Form of a Motu Proprio of the Supreme Pontiff Leo XIV on the Composition and Presidency of the Pontifical Commission for the State of Vatican City

As made public by the Holy See Press Office on Friday, 21 November, Pope Leo XIV, by a Motu Proprio signed on 19 November, repealed Article 8, no. 1 of the Fundamental Law of the State of Vatican City and replaced it as set out below, establishing that not only Cardinals, but also “other members,” may hold the office of President of the Pontifical Commission for the State of Vatican City.

APOSTOLIC LETTER ISSUED “MOTU PROPRIO” OF THE SUPREME PONTIFF LEO XIV ON THE COMPOSITION AND PRESIDENCY OF THE PONTIFICAL COMMISSION FOR VATICAN CITY STATE

The Governorate is called to contribute with its own structure to the mission of Vatican City State, carrying out this task “in the service of the Successor of Peter, to whom it is directly accountable”.

In fulfilling this demanding task, to which it is assigned according to the Fundamental Law of 13 May 2023, the Governorate of Vatican City State exercises a form of co-responsibility in communio, which is one of the principles for the service of the Roman Curia, as desired by Pope Francis and established in the Apostolic Constitution Praedicate Evangelium of 19 March 2022, which also applies to Vatican City State.

This form of shared responsibility makes it expedient to consolidate certain solutions that have been developed thus far in response to the needs of governance that are proving increasingly complex and pressing.

Considering these reasons and evaluating these solutions positively, I hereby establish the following:

Article 8, no. 1 of the Fundamental Law of Vatican City State is abrogated and substituted by the following: “Article 8, no. 1: The Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State is composed of the Cardinal and other members, including the President, appointed by the Supreme Pontiff for a five-year term”.

I order that the provisions of this Apostolic Letter have firm and stable force, notwithstanding anything to the contrary, even if worthy of special mention, and that it be promulgated by publication in L'Osservatore Romano, entering into force on the day of its publication, and subsequently included in the official commentary of the Acta Apostolicae Sedis.

Given in Rome, at Saint Peter's, on 19 November, first year of my Pontificate.