Criminal
A received nineteenth-century code, modernised by motu proprio
Vatican criminal law grew out of the Italian code received in 1929 and has been reformed by papal legislation, notably in 2013 for offences against minors and international crimes. The Vatican Tribunal tries cases, with appeal and cassation inside the State.
Key rules
- Reform in 2013 incorporated crimes against minors, torture and money laundering.
- The Tribunal, Court of Appeal and Court of Cassation sit within Vatican City State.
- Since 2021 cardinals and bishops can be tried before the ordinary Vatican Tribunal.
Governing law
- Law No. VIII on supplementary criminal law provisions (2013)
- Law No. LXXI on sources of law (2008)
Penalties and consequences
- Imprisonment, served in Italian prisons by agreement, and fines.
- Canonical penalties including dismissal from the clerical state, imposed separately.
In practice
Canonical and Vatican criminal proceedings are distinct tracks and can run in parallel over the same conduct.