Reuters

Employees at the Vatican Museums have launched a complaint over poor working conditions that could lead to legal action being taken against Pope Francis’ governorate.

Yahoo News

A group of 49 workers says that labor conditions at the Vatican Museums “violate their dignity and do not respect the basic rights of any worker,” according to lawyer Laura Sgrò. The group claims that it has to work overtime hours at lower rates and are subjected to subpar health and safety provisions.

Forty-nine workers say that labor conditions at the Vatican Museums “violate their dignity and do not respect the basic rights of any worker,” according to lawyer Laura Sgrò. The workers claim they have to work overtime hours at lower rates and are subjected to subpar health and safety provisions.

Crux

Corriere della Sera, an Italian newspaper, was the first to report the complaint, which was filed by 47 custodians, an art restorer, and a bookshop employee. Employees claim that the Vatican made sick employees stay home for 24 hours to wait for a doctor to check on them and punished those who left home at any point.

The 47 custodians, an art restorer, and a bookshop employee claim that the Vatican made sick employees stay home for 24 hours to wait for a doctor to check on them and punished those who left home at any point.

Catholic Herald

They also say that employees are being asked to return wages paid during the COVID lockdowns and that some have been penalized for taking care of sick family members. All of this culminated in workers becoming the “absolute asset of the manager.”

Guardian

Sgrò says the Vatican has ignored years of requests to remedy various issues, and she expects more workers to join the complaint, which could become the first class action lawsuit against the Holy See. 700 people work across the Vatican Museums’ 54 galleries.

Sgrò says the Vatican has ignored years of requests to remedy various issues, and she expects more workers to join the complaint, which could become the first class-action lawsuit against the Holy See. Seven hundred people work across the Vatican Museums’ 54 galleries.

The Vatican has 30 days to respond with measures it intends to take before legal proceedings would begin.

The Vatican has 30 days to respond before legal proceedings begin.

Reuters #

Guardian #2585

For years the Vatican has ignored the complaints of workers, creating an environment that violates their dignity. Now they have no choice but to pursue unprecedented legal action against Pope Francis’ administration. The treatment of Vatican Museums employees contradicts Catholic teaching about social justice and respect for the dignity of workers. Hopefully, the Holy See will begin honoring workers’ rights and a lawsuit can be avoided.

Independent

Independent #

Unhappy Vatican staff expose lack of workers’ rights in rare challenge to Pope

Social justice and respect for labor rights are indispensable Catholic values that are at the heart of Pope Francis’ papacy. For many years, Francis and his close allies have consistently advocated for fair labor practices and against exploitative economic structures. The Holy See continues to fight for the dignity of all workers, and that includes the very employees who work in Vatican City.

Catholic Review

Despite economic interests, society must embrace social justice, pope says

There is a 50% chance that the Catholic Church will elect a new Pope by Oct. 17, 2025, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

Metaculus

Metaculus #

Date of Next Election of Catholic Pope

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Vatican Museums Workers File Unprecedented Labor Complaint

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This mistreatment of employees has been going on for years  and contradicts Catholic teaching about social justice and respect for the dignity of workers. The workers have no choice but to pursue legal action against Pope Francis’ administration, and hopefully the Holy See will begin honoring workers’ rights to avoid this lawsuit from going further.

Pope Francis and his close allies have consistently advocated for social justice, fair labor practices, and an end to exploitative economic structure. The Holy See continues to fight for the dignity of all workers, and that includes the employees who work in Vatican City. It should be easy to resolve this legal matter if the workers' claims are legitimate.

There's a 50% chance that the Catholic Church will elect a new Pope by Oct. 17, 2025, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

Franco Origlia/Contributor/Getty Images News via Getty Images

Vatican Museums Workers File Labor Complaint

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