In a decree issued on December 23, 2021, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State of the Holy See, made it mandatory for all employees to have a valid health pass. Employees must demonstrate proof of vaccination or recovery from the virus to enter the workplace. Prior to this new measure, unvaccinated employees were permitted to enter the Vatican by demonstrating negative test results.
This new measure was taken “in view of the continuation and aggravation of the current health emergency.” The decree also requires all Vatican employees in contact with the public to complete their booster dose by January 31, 2022.
The new decree, which goes into effect immediately, largely repeats the articles of the decree of September 28, 2021, in which Cardinal Parolin made it mandatory to have a “green pass” to come to work in all Vatican offices. Failure to comply with this rule can result in suspension of pay and dismissal as provided for in the general regulations of the Roman Curia.
The new decree also recalls that in addition to the Vatican Gendarmerie, which is in charge of health pass controls, each institution of the Holy See “is obliged” to verify compliance with the decree. The Holy See also reserves the right to apply additional restrictions for people coming from a country “with a high risk of contagion.”
These measures are broadly in line with those adopted by the Italian Republic on December 6. Since the beginning of the pandemic, the Holy See has been in the habit of aligning its health policy with that of Italy.
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