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AI regulation in Holy See (Vatican)

Source-linked · checked 11 Sep 2026 1 instrument · 0 binding

Overview

The Holy See is the home of the Rome Call for AI Ethics (2020) promoted by the Pontifical Academy for Life, and issued the doctrinal note "Antiqua et Nova" on AI and human intelligence (January 2025); Vatican City State adopted guidelines on AI use in 2024. General law (data protection where enacted, consumer, telecommunications and sector rules) applies to AI systems. This record exists so that coverage is complete and honest: it will be expanded when an official AI instrument is published or a reviewer adds one with its source.

What is the current regulatory status?

The Holy See is the home of the Rome Call for AI Ethics (2020) promoted by the Pontifical Academy for Life, and issued the doctrinal note "Antiqua et Nova" on AI and human intelligence (January 2025); Vatican City State adopted guidelines on AI use in 2024. General law (data protection where enacted, consumer, telecommunications and sector rules) applies to AI systems.

Binding rules versus guidance

Binding: none recorded. Strategy or guidance: Rome Call for AI Ethics.

Key policy instruments

Holy See (Vatican) Framework Voluntary standard

Rome Call for AI Ethics

Rome Call for AI Ethics (Pontifical Academy for Life, 28 February 2020)

A declaration of six principles for the ethical development of AI (transparency, inclusion, responsibility, impartiality, reliability, security and privacy), first signed in February 2020 by the Pontifical Academy for Life, Microsoft, IBM, FAO and the Italian government, and since joined by other religious leaders, universities and companies. It calls for "algor-ethics" and human-centred design and is used as a reference in faith-based and corporate AI ethics commitments.

Adopted 28 Feb 2020 Source-linked · checked 11 Sep 2026 Official source

Upcoming deadlines

No scheduled future dates recorded. Past milestones are listed on each policy page.

Latest changes

No change events recorded yet.

Applicable sectors, use cases and obligation areas

Obligation areas

How to use this information

  1. Open the official source on each instrument before relying on any date or obligation.
  2. Treat strategies and guidance as signals of coming regulation, not as binding requirements.
  3. Check data-protection, consumer, employment and sector law that applies to AI systems regardless of AI-specific instruments.
  4. Treat the absence of an AI-specific instrument as a gap in our records, not as legal certainty; check the government portal and regulator sites linked here.

Official government and regulator sources

  1. The Holy See
    Government of Holy See (Vatican) · Tier 1 source
  2. Data Protection and Privacy Legislation Worldwide (country table)
    UNCTAD · Tier 3 source

Frequently asked questions

Does Holy See (Vatican) regulate AI?
The Holy See is the home of the Rome Call for AI Ethics (2020) promoted by the Pontifical Academy for Life, and issued the doctrinal note "Antiqua et Nova" on AI and human intelligence (January 2025); Vatican City State adopted guidelines on AI use in 2024. General law (data protection where enacted, consumer, telecommunications and sector rules) applies to AI systems. Report an official source through the correction form and a reviewer will add it.

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Informational only, not legal advice. Verify every claim against the linked official sources and consult qualified counsel before acting.