Pope encourages hiring people with disabilities at Vatican

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Leo XIV has approved a change in the Vatican labor laws to encourage offices to hire people with disabilities and to make the necessary accommodations.

A rescript approved by the pope regarding "the inclusion of differently abled persons in the work community of the Holy See" was published by the Vatican Sept. 13.

The pope's decision modifies a section of the regulations regarding hiring and employment at the Vatican.

"The employment of people with disabilities is promoted with a spirit of inclusion and, where necessary, through the adoption of appropriate and specific measures, given that the condition of disability does not preclude suitability for work within the entities subject to these regulations," the modification says.

The rules previously stated that the Vatican health department should certify the "state of good health" of potential new hires.

Read in the light of the new introductory statement, the section now says potential employees should have "psycho-physical suitability for the duties to be carried out, certified by the Directorate of Health and Hygiene of the Vatican City State."