ROME. Forty-nine employees of the Vatican Museums have filed a class-action complaint with the Vatican administration, demanding improved seniority, leave, and overtime benefits, in a direct challenge to the governance of Pope Francis.
The complaint, dated April 23 and disclosed by Italian newspapers over the weekend, highlights concerns over health and security risks faced by staff due to cost-saving measures and apparent profit-driven initiatives within the museums. These initiatives include overcrowding and a reduction in security guards to manage the influx of tourists.
Neither the Vatican spokesperson nor Cardinal Fernando Vérgez Alzaga, president of the Vatican City State administration overseeing the museums, responded to requests for comment.
This legal action underscores the ongoing clash between Vatican laws and European norms. Recent civil and criminal cases have shed light on the limited legal recourse available to Vatican employees, particularly Italian citizens, within the city-state’s unique justice system, where Pope Francis holds supreme executive, legislative, and judicial authority.
The class-action complaint, prepared and endorsed by veteran Vatican attorney Laura Sgro on behalf of the employees, draws attention to the social teachings of the Catholic Church and Pope Francis’ calls for employers to uphold the dignity of workers. It demands greater transparency in career advancement, restoration of seniority bonuses, and adherence to Italian standards regarding sick leave.
Under Vatican labor regulations, Cardinal Vérgez Alzaga has 30 days to respond to the complaint. If negotiations fail to commence, Sgro may escalate the matter to the Vatican’s labor office for potential reconciliation, which could ultimately lead to tribunal proceedings. However, the office retains the discretion to reject the case, leaving employees with limited avenues for redress.
In previous cases, attorneys have signaled intentions to bring complaints about the Vatican’s legal system to the European Court of Human Rights, despite the Holy See not being a member or signatory to the European Convention on Human Rights. Some legal experts argue that the Vatican, through its 2009 signing of the European Union monetary convention, committed to upholding European human rights norms.
The Vatican Museums serve as a significant revenue source for the Vatican, subsidizing the Holy See bureaucracy. However, the museums faced financial strain from COVID-19 closures and restrictions, leading to a hike in full-price ticket costs earlier this year to 20 euros ($21.50), up from 17 euros.
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Contributing Editor
AMA ACLC San Pablo
