Reform in the reforms

A year has passed since the Basic Law of the Vatican City State came into force: 7 June 2023-7 June 2024. Pope Francis, issued it on 13 May 2023, on the feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Fatima. It replaced the one of Saint John Paul II of 26 November 2000 which, in turn, had replaced that issued on 7 June 1929 by Pius XI.

Like many small flames before the Heart of Mary

Hundreds of tiny flames, like many pleas brought before the Heart of Mary so they may reach her Son’s Heart, lit a long procession through the Vatican Gardens on Friday evening, 31 May. The procession ended at the Grotta di Lourdes. A large number of faithful participated in the recital of the Rosary, surrounded by the light of the flambeaux, and listened to the concluding reflection of Cardinal Fernando Vérgez Alzaga, President of the Governorate of Vatican City State.

Address of Sister Raffaella Petrini’, Head of the Holy See delegation to the International Telecommunication Union’s WSIS+20 Forum High-Level Event 2024, held in Geneva.

There is an urgent need to outline a framework to regulate Artificial Intelligence, one developed by experts from various areas and sectors, who can assess potential developments, benefits and risks, said Sister Raffaella Petrini, General Secretary of the Governorate of Vatican City State, and head of the Holy See’s Delegation, during a ministerial round table discussion of the International Telecommunication Union’s (ITU) WSIS+20 Forum High-Level Event 2024, on the theme: “The World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Action Lines and the WSIS+20 review process”. The High-Level Event took place on Tuesday, 28 May in Geneva, Switzerland.

Responsibility and transparency for the protection of people

Perhaps not everyone knows that in the Vatican too, personal data is protected by law. On 30 April 2024, with Decree No. DCLVII, the Pontifical Commission of Vatican City State promulgated its first General Regulation on the protection of personal data.

On Tuesday, 4 June, Sister Raffaella Petrini, General Secretary of the Governorate of Vatican City State met with Joseph Simon Donnelly, Ambassador of the United States of America to the Holy See, at the Offices of the Governorate. The Diplomat was accompanied by Paul Furgiule, Deputy Facility Manager & Post Occupational Safety and Health Officer (POSHO), Andrea Battilocchi, Supervisory Engineer and by Alyce Ahn, Political and Economic Officer of the Embassy.