Unhappy Vatican staff expose lack of workers’ rights in rare challenge to the Pope

Pope Francis leads Sunday's Regina Coeli prayer from the window of his office overlooking Saint Peter's Square, Vatican City

A group of 49 Vatican Museums employees has filed a collective complaint with the Vatican administration, seeking improvements in seniority rights, leave policies, and overtime benefits. This move represents a rare public challenge to the governance of Pope Francis.

The complaint, revealed recently, outlines concerns about health and security risks faced by staff due to cost-saving measures and revenue-generating initiatives at the museums. These include overcrowding and a reduction in security personnel to manage tourist flows effectively.

Neither the Vatican spokesperson nor Cardinal Fernando Alzaga, president of the Vatican City state administration overseeing the museums, has issued a comment on the matter.

A total of 49 employees of the Vatican Museums have filed a class-action complaint with the Vatican administration

This complaint is part of a broader pattern highlighting the disconnect between Vatican regulations and Italian/European standards. Previous legal cases have spotlighted the limited legal recourse available to Vatican employees, particularly Italian citizens, within the unique legal framework of the city-state, governed by an absolute monarchy under Pope Francis's authority.

The class-action complaint, drafted and signed by veteran Vatican attorney Laura Sgro on behalf of the employees, references the Catholic Church's social teachings and Pope Francis's calls for dignified treatment of workers. Key demands include improved transparency in career advancement, reinstatement of seniority bonuses, and adherence to Italian sick leave norms.

Current Vatican labor rules grant a 30-day window for a response to the complaint. If discussions do not commence, Ms. Sgro can escalate the matter to the Vatican's labor office for potential mediation or tribunal intervention. However, the labor office has the authority to decline to hear the case, leaving employees with limited options.

In recent legal actions, lawyers have hinted at the possibility of taking employees' grievances about the system to the European Court of Human Rights. Despite not being a member of the court or a signatory to the European Convention on Human Rights, the Vatican is seen by some legal experts as having a commitment to uphold European human rights norms.

The Vatican Museums play a crucial role in generating revenue for the Holy See, supporting the central government of the Catholic Church. Despite financial setbacks from Covid-related closures, the museums raised their full-price ticket cost to €20 (£17.20) at the beginning of the year, up from €17.