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 and deputizes as the head of government of Vatican City, as well as six cardinals appointed by the Pope, the head of state of Vatican City, 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
Following the most recent changes on 15 October 2025,[3] the president and the members are:
The president of the Pontifical Commission also serves as the Vatican City State's de factohead of government, as the president of the Governorate of Vatican City State, an office that is distinct from the former title of governor of Vatican City.[5][b] In addition to their legislative role, the president is delegated executive authority for Vatican City by the Pope.[1][2] As a senior member of the Roman Curia, the president has usually been a cardinal.[6]Raffaella Petrini is the first woman to hold the position. Article 8 n. 1, of the Fundamental Law, promulgated in 2023, previously stated: “The Pontifical Commission is composed of Cardinals, including the President, and of other members, appointed by the Supreme Pontiff for a five-year term.” But in 2025, Pope Leo XIV replaced this with, “The Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State is composed of Cardinals and other members, including the President, appointed by the Supreme Pontiff for a five-year term”, thus allowing people who are not cardinals to be president.[7][8]
When the papacy is vacant, the term of the president ends, as do most other offices in the Curia, and the person occupying the position becomes a member of the Commission that handles some of the functions of head of state until a new pope is chosen, along with the Cardinal Secretary of State and the Cardinal Camerlengo.[9]
↑The pope wields all executive power in the Vatican City State; however, the pope, as head of state and de jure head of government, delegates the day-to-day exercise of this and the running of government departments to the President of the Governorate of Vatican City State, making them de facto head of government.
↑The post of Governor of the Vatican City State (Italian: Governatore dello Stato della Città del Vaticano) was held by Marchese Camillo Serafini from the foundation of the state in 1929 until his death in 1952. The governor had power to appoint and supervise the people running the city state. During Serafini's lifetime, the powers of the governor were limited by Pope Pius XII in 1939 by the establishment of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State. No successor was appointed and the position was abolished on Serafini's death.
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