On the feast day of St Peter, Pope Francis issued new statutes for the Vatican basilica dedicated to the apostle.
On Saturday, the Vatican press office published a 59-page document with rules on the management and organisation of St Peter's Basilica.
In particular, the document is dedicated to the tasks and regulations for the college of priests working there.
The Pope had already issued transitional norms for this in 2021.
According to the new statutes, 24 priests from all over the world are to dedicate themselves to four areas of activity in St Peter's Basilica. These include the organisation and arrangement of mass celebrations as well as pastoral care for pilgrims, local faithful and employees. There are also charitable, cultural and theological tasks.
The guidelines also regulate the term of office and remuneration.
The head, the so-called archpriest, is appointed by the Pope. Cardinal Mauro Gambetti currently holds this office. The 58-year-old religious priest is also President of the Cathedral of St Peter.
This is also affected by the reorganisation.
Pope Francis has taken them into account with new regulations and personnel rules.
According to the paper, the task of the Cathedral Building Lodge is to preserve and enhance the religious, artistic, historical, architectural and cultural heritage of St Peter's Basilica.
Francis had previously reorganised the legal status of the papal basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore.
In 2005, Pope Benedict XVI did the same with the Papal Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls.