Woman elected to head Vatican lay workers union for first time
For the first time in the Vatican's history, a woman has been elected to lead the lay workers’ union. The newly appointed chairwoman, Paola Monaco, has announced her commitment to open dialogue and highlighted the importance of considering employees’ opinions.
The woman represents over 4,000 lay employees who work in various offices, institutions, administrative roles, and technical sectors within the Vatican. "The voice of the employees cannot be ignored; it is anachronistic to make unilateral decisions and impose them from above. My concern will be to ensure continuity with the past, with a determined step," she stated in her first speech following her election.
The new general secretary previously worked in the dicastery for economic affairs and is currently employed in the office that organises eucharistic congresses worldwide.
What will Paola Monaco be responsible for?
The newspaper "Il Messaggero" highlights that Paola Monaco will be responsible for addressing many delicate issues, such as implementing reforms and introducing internal regulations for Vatican employees.
The paper emphasises that the situation of these employees is unique—due to their work for the Church and the Pope, they cannot strike. However, protests have occurred in the past. During the pontificate of John Paul II, a special office was created to resolve employee disputes, serving as the Vatican’s equivalent of a labour court.
One of the priorities of the lay workers’ union is pursuing greater transparency in budgetary matters. In a statement issued after her election, Paola Monaco stressed that although Vatican employees are often asked to make sacrifices, they still feel they are part of a unique community.
"The Vatican reality is not only about numbers and economic issues, but above all about values, human and moral aspects, quality, and authenticity," she said. Furthermore, Paola Monaco advocated for dialogue with the heads of various Vatican institutions.
