"Staff are obliged to maintain exemplary religious and moral behaviour, including in their private and family lives, in accordance with the teachings of the Church," reads the new personnel regulations of the Catholic world church administration.
The regulations for papal employees published on Monday will come into force on 1 January 2026 for five years on a trial basis - as will the new rules of procedure that govern the (co-operation) work of the offices and institutions of the Roman Curia.
The adaptations of the regulations to the new"Praedicate Evangelium" curia constitution of 2022 had long been expected.
Strict rules and special holidays
The rules for Curia employees are strict, the hierarchy is strict.
As is customary in Italy, full-time employees in the Curia also work six days a week - totalling 36 hours.
Public holidays sometimes differ from those of neighbouring EU countries and are sometimes "floating": in the Vatican, for example, employees have the day off on the election day of the current pope and on his name day.
These are currently 8 May and 17 September.
The holiday entitlement is 158 hours, i.e. a good 26 days. Remaining holiday from the previous year expires.
A 13th salary is paid shortly before Christmas.
If an employee falls ill, the Vatican may check this despite a medical certificate - even if the employee is at home.
An employee is entitled to six months' maternity leave. There are no flexitime regulations as in many German companies.
The Pope allows his employees half an hour's flexibility when starting and finishing work.
Part-time employment does exist, but it may not be less than 50 per cent.
No relatives, appropriate clothing
After the case of a couple of employees who were dismissed shortly after getting married made headlines last year, the new regulation makes it clear that employees who are related by blood or marriage may not work in the same Curia organisation.
In addition, employees, who should - as far as possible - come from different regions of the world, must always dress appropriately.
The rules do not specify how exactly this should be done.
There have been repeated adjustments to the regulations in recent years.
Most recently in August, Leo XIV decreed more inclusive access to Vatican jobs for people with disabilities.