Once you get a I work in the Vatican it represented a goal longed for by many, a guarantee of a permanent job and a solid basis for starting a family. For some, it evidently must no longer be this way. A few months after the news of a class action lawsuit by Vatican Museum employees, a new initiative by Vatican workers is making waves within the Sacred Walls not happy of the treatment reserved for them and more generally of financial management.
The complaint
A highly critical document was published in recent days by the Association of Vatican Lay Employees (ADLV). This is the organization representing lay workers of the Holy See and the Vatican City State, founded in 1979 and recognized as such by John Paul II in 1982 which also mentioned it in the Apostolic Constitution Pastor Bonus, while specifying that “it does not correspond (…) to the social doctrine of the Church to have this type of organization slide onto the terrain of all-out conflict or class struggle; nor should they have a political imprint or serve, openly or covertly, the interests of a party or other entities aiming at objectives of a very different nature”. It has been creeping into the ranks of the association for some time bad mood and shortly after the feast of the Assumption he exploded in a text that seems to want to highlight the alleged contradictions between the principles advocated in the magisterium of the Pope and the concrete consequences of the economic reforms. The employees write: “starting with the motu proprio Fidelis dispensator et prudens, the Vatican has begun to pay particular attention to the economy, a feature that has now dominated all the activities of the Vatican res (…) but, we ask ourselves: is there real attention to the “human person”? Our interest is also to protect the image of the Holy See, which has unfortunately been undermined in recent years by scandals”. The association points the finger at financial reforms claimed several times during the years of Francis’ pontificate, writing that “today, in light of the investment of resources made, what are the results of this “revolution”? We do not know exactly because, for some years, the budget data – which were once commented on in press conferences – have not been published. Let’s not lose hope of being able to view the next 2023 final budget”. A not-so-veiled accusation, therefore, of a lack of transparency.
Against the cuts
Vatican employees have been struggling for several years with the blocking of promotions and the resulting salary adjustments. In March 2021, Francis promulgated the motu proprio regarding the cost containment for the staff of the Holy See, the Governorate of the Vatican City State and other associated entities. A document that invited the staff to tighten their belts and that triggered the suspension of the accrual of the biennial seniority increments. The ADLV defined it “a not painless measure, costing thousands of euros to the employee, with significant repercussions on pensions and severance pay” that failed “to bring about a radical change in the financial situation of the Holy See.” The fear of Vatican employees is that after the stop of the two-year periods, a “slimming cure” could also be introduced for pensions. The note from the association is clear: “What should we expect from the announced wage reform? It will also address the pensions? The ADLV has not yet been informed of this. Obviously, the ADLV is not prepared to remain indifferent if further penalizing measures for employees are adopted”. The association, on the other hand, is not a union and in the Vatican the idea prevails that it is not a duty, neither legal nor moral, to treat it as a counterpart. But the dissatisfied employees have also raised their voices to denounce the existence of a double standards where they write that “we see that promotions and positions in management continue to be given to a few: actions that impact on budgets and that do not always occur with meritocratic criteria”.
No to outsourcing
Another issue that worries employees is the trend towards outsourcing in various sectors. This novelty is defined by ADLV “a radical change of direction: from a restricted community inspired by the values of the Gospel, eager to underline its particularity in the eyes of the world, to agency for all intents and purposes”, with the accusation of transforming the Holy See into a “a somewhat limping multinational, which lacks many of the bonuses, prizes and gratifications enjoyed by external employees.” The association’s public stance comes after the failure to respond to several requests for discussion. The text, in fact, ended with an explicit complaint: “If someone could answer our questions clearly, it would be easier for us to reassure our members, who are increasingly worried. We have asked our Superiors for further feedback. Will anyone respond to us before the General Assembly in September?” According to what has been learned, among the recipients of the protests there would be Cardinal Fernando Vérgez Alzaga, president of the Governorate of the Vatican City State. But the Vatican employees have above all a “grudge” with the Secretariat for the Economy who is held responsible for the hated suspension of the two-year seniority periods.
Even if the image of the Vatican worker who resists in public opinion could make this battle appear as a defense of legacies of the past rather than of acquired rights, it is a new “tough nut to crack” for the Pope who in his actions has most exposed himself against social injustice.