Pope Francis issues Motu Proprio on criminal law matters in Vatican
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has issued a Motu Proprio on criminal law matters and
administrative sanctions within Vatican City State and the Holy See. In a statement
by the Holy See’s Press Office, it was announced that on this same date, the Pontifical
Commission for Vatican City State has adopted the following laws:
Law
No. VIII containing Supplementary Norms on Criminal Law Matters; Law No. IX containing
Amendments to the Criminal Code and the Criminal Procedure Code; Law No. X containing
General Provisions on Administrative Sanctions.
The note from the
Holy See Press Office goes on to clarify the following points: The Motu
proprio makes the criminal laws adopted by the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City
State applicable also within the Holy See.
The criminal
laws adopted today are a continuation of the efforts to update Vatican City State’s
legal system, building upon the measures adopted since 2010 during the pontificate
of Benedict XVI.
These laws, however, have a broader
scope, since they incorporate into the Vatican legal system the provisions of numerous
international conventions including: the four Geneva Conventions of 1949, on the conduct
of war and war crimes; the 1965 Convention on the elimination of all forms of racial
discrimination; the 1984 Convention against torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading
treatment or punishment, the 1989 Convention on the rights of the child and its optional
protocols of 2000.
Of particular note in this context
is the introduction of the crime of torture and a broader definition of the category
of crimes against minors (including: the sale of children, child prostitution, the
recruitment of children, sexual violence and sexual acts with children, and the production
and possession of child pornography).
A section of
the legislation introduces a list of crimes against humanity, in particular, the crimes
of genocide and apartheid, following broadly the definitions adopted in the 1998 Statute
of the International Criminal Court. The section of the Criminal Code regarding offences
committed in the exercise of public administration has also been revised in light
of the 2003 United Nations Convention against corruption. With regard to penalties,
that of life imprisonment has been abolished and it has been replaced with a maximum
penalty of 30 to 35 years of imprisonment.
In line
with the most recent developments at the international level, the new legislation
also introduces a system of penalties for juridical persons who profit from the criminal
activities of their constituent bodies or personnel, establishing their direct liability
and providing as penalties a set of interdictions and pecuniary sanctions.
In the area of criminal procedure, the general principles of presumption
of innocence and due process within a reasonable time have been recognized explicitly,
while the power of the judicial authorities to adopt precautionary measures has been
increased by bringing up to date the provisions for confiscation and the freezing
of assets.
Also of importance is the modernization
of the rather dated norms governing international judicial cooperation, with the adoption
of measures in line with the standards of the most recent international conventions.
The law on administrative sanctions is of a general nature so as to serve
as a common framework that provides for the possibility of sanctions in different
areas intended to promote respect for the norms, to render them effective and to protect
the public interests.
As a whole, these normative efforts
form part of broader process aimed at modernizing further the Vatican legal system
with a view to enhancing its consistency and effectiveness.
The
following is an English translation of Pope Francis’ Apostolic Letter Motu Proprio
on the jurisdiction of Judicial Authorities of Vatican City State in criminal matters
(Full Text)
In our times, the common good is increasingly threatened by
transnational organized crime, the improper use of the markets and of the economy,
as well as by terrorism.
It is therefore necessary for the international community
to adopt adequate legal instruments to prevent and counter criminal activities, by
promoting international judicial cooperation on criminal matters.
In ratifying
numerous international conventions in these areas, and acting also on behalf of Vatican
City State, the Holy See has constantly maintained that such agreements are effective
means to prevent criminal activities that threaten human dignity, the common good
and peace.
With a view to renewing the Apostolic See’s commitment to cooperate
to these ends, by means of this Apostolic Letter issued Motu Proprio, I establish
that:
1. The competent Judicial Authorities of Vatican City State shall also
exercise penal jurisdiction over: a) crimes committed against the security, the
fundamental interests or the patrimony of the Holy See; b) crimes referred to:
- in Vatican City State Law No. VIII, of 11 July 2013, containing Supplementary
Norms on Criminal Law Matters; - in Vatican City State Law No. IX, of 11 July 2013,
containing Amendments to the Criminal Code and the Criminal Procedure Code; when
such crimes are committed by the persons referred to in paragraph 3 below, in the
exercise of their functions; c) any other crime whose prosecution is required by
an international agreement ratified by the Holy See, if the perpetrator is physically
present in the territory of Vatican City State and has not been extradited.
2.
The crimes referred to in paragraph 1 are to be judged pursuant to the criminal law
in force in Vatican City State at the time of their commission, without prejudice
to the general principles of the legal system on the temporal application of criminal
laws.
3. For the purposes of Vatican criminal law, the following persons are
deemed “public officials”: a) members, officials and personnel of the various organs
of the Roman Curia and of the Institutions connected to it. b) papal legates and
diplomatic personnel of the Holy See. c) those persons who serve as representatives,
managers or directors, as well as persons who even de facto manage or exercise control
over the entities directly dependent on the Holy See and listed in the registry of
canonical juridical persons kept by the Governorate of Vatican City State; d) any
other person holding an administrative or judicial mandate in the Holy See, permanent
or temporary, paid or unpaid, irrespective of that person’s seniority.
4. The
jurisdiction referred to in paragraph 1 comprises also the administrative liability
of juridical persons arising from crimes, as regulated by Vatican City State laws.
5. When the same matters are prosecuted in other States, the provisions in
force in Vatican City State on concurrent jurisdiction shall apply.
6. The
content of article 23 of Law No. CXIX of 21 November 1987, which approves the Judicial
Order of Vatican City State remains in force.
This I decide and establish,
anything to the contrary notwithstanding. I establish that this Apostolic Letter
issued Motu Proprio will be promulgated by its publication in L’Osservatore Romano,
entering into force on 1 September 2013.
Given in Rome, at the Apostolic Palace,
on 11 July 2013, the first of my Pontificate. FRANCIS Listen to our report: