Pope Francis on Friday, May 29th, 2019 enacted a new law to protect children from sexual abuse within the Vatican, other Holy See institutions in Rome and by its diplomatic corps around the world.
The abuse of minors and vulnerable people came under various legal provisions, some of them instituted on an ad hoc basis.
The new provision marks the first time a unified and rigorous policy for the protection of children would be put in place.
The changes were issued under the form of an Apostolic Letter, and a set of detailed guidelines affecting personnel in the Vatican and its related institutions such as pontifical institutes and embassies.
The over-arching law which calls for a Vatican official or employee convicted of abusing a child to be dismissed, goes into effect on the first of June.
