Pope issues new constitution for Vatican City State

Pope Leo XIV has promulgated a new constitution for Vatican City State, formally enshrining the possibility for a non-cardinal to serve as president of its governing body.

The new laws, making up the Fundamental Law of Vatican City State, were published on July 31. They replace the 2023 constitution by Pope Francis , which emphasized papal authority over the sovereign state.

In an explanatory note, the Vatican said the new law responded to government and regulatory changes in recent years.

Non-cardinal eligibility for Vatican presidency enshrined in Fundamental Law The most direct change in the 2026 law concerned the presidency and composition of the Vatican’s pontifical commission and governorate.

In 2025, Pope Francis appointed Sister Raffaella Petrini, FSE, as the first woman and first non-cardinal to serve as president of both the Pontifical Commission and the Governorate. Although the 2023 law already allowed non-cardinals to be members of the commission, its presidency had been reserved to a cardinal.

The Vatican subsequently said Francis had modified the Fundamental Law in connection with Petrini’s appointment. In November 2025, Leo XIV issued a motu proprio…