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Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State

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Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State
Coat of arms or logo
Type
Type
Leadership
Fernando Vérgez Alzaga
since 1 October 2021
Structure
Seats8
Political groups
Nonpartisan
Elections
Appointment by the Pope
Meeting place
Palace of the Governorate
Website
Official website
Vatican City
This article is part of a series on
Vatican City
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Law
Politics and government
Papacy
Foreign relations
Economy
Symbols
Culture
Buildings/geography
Vatican Museums

The Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State (Latin: Pontificia Commissio pro Civitate Vaticana, Italian: Pontificia Commissione per lo Stato della Città del Vaticano) is the legislative body of Vatican City.[1] It consists of a president, who also holds the title of President of the Governorate of Vatican City State and serves as the head of government of Vatican City, as well as seven other cardinals appointed by the pope for five-year terms.[1]

The Pontifical Commission was created in 1939 by Pius XII. Laws and regulations proposed by the Commission must be submitted to the Pope through the Secretariat of State prior to being made public and taking effect.[1] Laws, regulations, and instructions enacted by the Commission are published in the Acta Apostolicae Sedis.[2]

Current members

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As of May 2023, the president and the members are:

Position Name[3] Country Other positions
President Cardinal Fernando Vérgez Alzaga, L.C. Spain Spain President of the Governorate of Vatican City State
Members Cardinal Kevin J. Farrell United States United States Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church
Prefect of the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life
Cardinal Giuseppe Petrocchi Italy Italy Archbishop of L'Aquila
Cardinal Stanisław Ryłko Poland Poland Archpriest of Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore
Cardinal Leonardo Sandri Argentina Argentina Prefect of the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches
Cardinal Arthur Roche United Kingdom United Kingdom Prefect of the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments
Cardinal Mauro Gambetti Italy Italy Vicar General for Vatican City
President of the Fabric of Saint Peter
Sister Raffaella Petrini Italy Italy Secretary-General of the Governorate of Vatican City State

Governorate of Vatican City State

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The President of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State also serves as the head of government of Vatican City, the president of the Governorate of Vatican City State, an office that is distinct from the former title of Governor of Vatican City.[4] In addition to his legislative role, the President is delegated executive authority for Vatican City by the Pope.[5][6] Administrations and departments of Vatican City's government, including the Corpo della Gendarmeria, the Vatican Observatory, the Vatican Museums, and the Department of Pontifical Villas, which administers Castel Gandolfo, report to the Governorate.[7]

The functions of the Governorate include:

  • Legal office
  • Office for Personnel
  • Office for Civil Records
  • Archives
  • Accounting Office
  • Numismatic and Philatelic office
  • Post and Telegraph office
  • Shipping office
  • Police Department (Corps of Gendarmerie of Vatican City)
  • Tourist Information Office
  • Department of Museums and Galleries (Vatican Museums)
  • Department of Economic Services
  • Department of Technical Services
  • Vatican Observatory
  • Castel Gandolfo
  • Office for Archeological Research

President

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In addition to his legislative role, the President of the Governorate of Vatican City State, who since 1 October 2021 has been Archbishop Fernando Vérgez Alzaga, has been delegated executive authority by the Pope for Vatican City, as the president of the Governorate of Vatican City State. As a senior member of the Roman Curia, the president is usually a cardinal of the Catholic Church.[8]

During a sede vacante, the term of the president ends, as do most other offices in the Curia. However, the holder of the office prior to the death or resignation of the Pope becomes a member of the Commission that handles some of the functions of the head of state until a new pope can be chosen, along with the former Cardinal Secretary of State and the Chamberlain of the Holy Roman Church.[9]

Governor of the Vatican City State

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No. Image Name
(Birth–Death) 		Term Length of term
1 Marquis
Camillo Serafini
(1864–1952) 		11 February 1929 – 21 March 1952 23 years, 39 days

Presidents of the Governorate of Vatican City State

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No. Image Name
(Birth–Death) 		Term Length of term
1 Nicola Canali
(1874–1961) 		20 March 1939 – 3 August 1961 22 years, 136 days
2 Amleto Giovanni Cicognani
(1883–1973) 		12 August 1961 – 30 April 1969 7 years, 261 days
3 Jean-Marie Villot
(1905–1979) 		2 May 1969 – 9 March 1979 9 years, 311 days
4 Agostino Casaroli
(1914–1998) 		28 April 1979 – 8 April 1984 4 years, 346 days
5 Sebastiano Baggio
(1913–1993) 		8 April 1984 – 31 October 1990 6 years, 206 days
6 Rosalio Lara
(1922–2007) 		31 October 1990 – 15 October 1997 6 years, 349 days
7 Edmund Szoka
(1927–2014) 		15 October 1997 – 15 September 2006 8 years, 335 days
8 Giovanni Lajolo
(born 1935) 		15 September 2006 – 1 October 2011 5 years, 16 days
9 Giuseppe Bertello
(born 1942) 		1 October 2011 – 1 October 2021 10 years, 0 days
10 Fernando Vérgez Alzaga
(born 1945) 		1 October 2021 – present 3 years, 29 days

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c Pope John Paul II (26 November 2000). "Fundamental Law of Vatican City State" (PDF). Vatican City State. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 February 2008. Retrieved 12 August 2007.
  2. ^ "Legislative and executive bodies". Vatican City State. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 12 August 2007.
  3. ^ "Organi di Governo". www.vaticanstate.va. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
  4. ^ "Presidency of the Governorate of Vatican City State". Archived from the original on 13 March 2013.
  5. ^ Pope John Paul II (26 November 2000). "Fundamental Law of Vatican City State" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 February 2008. Retrieved 11 October 2007.
  6. ^ "Legislative and Executive Bodies". Office of the President of Vatican City State. 2007. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 11 October 2007.
  7. ^ "Administrations and Central Offices". Office of the President of Vatican City State. Archived from the original on 23 October 2007. Retrieved 11 October 2007.
  8. ^ Cardinale, Gianni (6 January 2022). "Morto il cardinale Álvarez Martínez, 96enne pastore emerito di Toledo". Avvenire (in Italian). Retrieved 8 January 2022.
  9. ^ Pope John Paul II (22 February 1996). "Universi Dominici Gregis". Retrieved 12 October 2007.
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