The Vatican has unveiled a sweeping update to its public procurement regulations, introducing a streamlined framework designed to safeguard integrity while accelerating decision-making in the Holy See’s contracting processes. The reform implements key provisions of Para una mejor armonización (“For a Better Harmonization”), a motu proprio issued in January 2024 and builds upon the Vatican’s 2020 apostolic letter on transparency, oversight, and competition in awarding public contracts, originally promulgated by Pope Francis. The new regulations represent the work of multiple Vatican departments. Officials say the goal is to preserve the principles of transparency, fair competition, and equal treatment of bidders while cutting through bureaucratic bottlenecks that can delay projects.
