Pope Leo XIV Approves Historic Change of Official Vatican Documents' Drafting Language from Latin to Modern
Pope Leo XIV approved new regulations for the Roman Curia published on Nov. 24. One historic change is the drafting of Official Vatican documents in languages other than Latin. The document now regulates: Title XIII - LANGUAGES IN USE Art. 50
§1. The curial institutions will normally draft their acts in Latin or in another language.
§2. An office for the Latin language is established within the Secretariat of State, at the service of the Roman Curia.
§3. Care will be taken to ensure that the main documents intended for publication are translated into the most widely used languages today.
(Vatican Media Image of Pope Leo XIV signing Dilexit te)
Another key development of the reforms is new employment directives that have been codified, mandating a six-day working week, fixed hours, 26 days of annual leave, limits on part-time work and bans on hiring relatives within the same office. Sick leave is to be closely monitored, and new evaluation systems will join responsibilities to measurable standards.
Publication and Effective Date of January 1, 2026
The Regulations were signed by Pope Leo XIV, Sunday, November 23, on the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe.
They were published on November 24 (Vatican News).
Content and Scope
1. General Regulations of the Roman Curia
Applies to: The institutions and offices that comprise the Roman Curia.
Specifically includes: The Secretariat of State, the Dicasteries, the Institutions of Justice, and the Economic Organizations.
2. Regulations of the Personnel of the Roman Curia
Concerns: The organizational, disciplinary, and economic norms.
Pertains to: The employment of personnel serving at the Secretariat of State, the Dicasteries, the Institutions, and the Offices that comprise the Roman Curia, as well as the institutions associated with the Holy See.
What's Being Replaced?
The new Regulation replaces the one approved by Saint John Paul II on April 15, 1999, which entered into force on July 1 of the same year.
It incorporates and implements the changes, innovations, and indications introduced by Pope Francis with the Apostolic Constitution Praedicate Evangelium of March 19, 2022.
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