The witness of the Apostolic See in responding to the call to heal every kind of sickness and infirmity, which is such an important part of the mission entrusted to the College of Bishops (Mt 10:1), has, by long tradition, also been manifested in including amongst the institutions that refer to it and to which it pays particular attention, managing them directly, the initiatives arising within the Church in support of those who suffer and those who care for them, and which in this context perform works of charity, both spiritual and temporal (114, §2 CIC).

Among these institutions for which the Apostolic See has assumed direct responsibility and care is the Opera founded by Saint Pio of Pietrelcina, established as a Foundation under the name “Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza (House for the Relief of Suffering) – Opera di San Pio da Pietrelcina, O.F.M. Cap.” (hereinafter also the “Foundation”) with the aim of providing hospitality, assistance and care to the sick, pilgrims and their families, drawing inspiration from the spirituality and figure of the holy founder.

The evolution of the times, technology, the law and the economy present the mission of the Church with the challenge of constant renewal, particularly in those sectors, such as healthcare and the care of the sick, which require significant investment and sound management of such funds, including through the support of the faithful and those public and private institutions which, sharing the Church’s Mission and Doctrine, come to her aid or decide to participate in it with personal and material contributions.

In order to address and meet this challenge, having consulted experts and other collaborators, by this Chirograph I hereby establish a Steering and Supervisory Commission for the Foundation “Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza – Opera di San Pio da Pietrelcina, O.F.M. Cap.”, with the task of analysing the current situation of the Foundation, identifying the best solutions for ever-greater efficiency, effectiveness and long-term sustainability of its work and mission, and for the practical implementation of the solutions thus identified.

To this end, with this Chirograph,

I decree the following

1. The Steering and Supervisory Commission for the Foundation “Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza – Opera di San Pio da Pietrelcina, O.F.M. Cap.” (hereinafter also referred to as the “Commission”) is hereby established.

2. The Commission shall have the task of:

i. analysing the current economic, financial, operational and managerial situation of the Foundation’s activities;

ii. identifying and proposing solutions which, based on the analysis carried out, will improve the effectiveness, efficiency and sustainability of the Foundation’s activities, both in the short and long term;

iii. implement and bring to fruition the solutions thus identified.

3. The Commission is vested with powers and authority appropriate to the performance of its functions and institutional purposes within the limits established by this Chirograph and by the regulations of the Holy See and the relevant provisions of Italian law under which the Foundation operates.

In particular:

i. the Commission shall approve amendments to the Foundation’s Statutes and Regulations in order to bring them into line with this Chirograph and to implement and bring to fruition the solutions referred to in §2;

ii. the Commission is vested with the power, including in lieu of the Foundation’s statutory bodies, to adopt resolutions and other acts, agreements and contracts relating to ordinary and extraordinary administration, necessary to implement and bring to fruition the solutions referred to in §2, as well as any other acts and resolutions that may arise in the meantime and even earlier, whether preliminary or necessary, or which are of an urgent and unavoidable nature. The resolutions thus adopted by the Commission shall be binding on the Foundation, its statutory bodies and all those serving therein;

iii. within the limits of the duties and powers conferred by this Chirograph on the Commission and of the resolutions adopted by it, the Chair of the Commission is hereby authorized to represent the Foundation, as special attorney, including before Italian public authorities, the Commission being empowered to take whatever steps are necessary to ensure that the powers and representation conferred by this Chirograph upon the Commission and its Chair, and the other resolutions adopted by the Commission, are effective and fully operational under Italian law;

iv. in the performance of its functions, the Commission may engage external consultants and collaborators, selected from among individuals and entities of proven competence and adequate experience in managing activities similar to those decided upon by the Commission;

v. the Commission, within the limits established by this Chirograph and by the regulations of the Holy See and the relevant provisions of Italian law, shall have the right to access and obtain all data, documents and information relating to the Foundation and its activities held by the Foundation itself, by its advisers or by other bodies of the Holy See or the Church;

vi. where deemed appropriate, the Commission shall avail itself of the prompt cooperation of the Foundation’s statutory bodies, as well as its entire staff. The Curial Institutions, other bodies connected to the Holy See and the Governorate of Vatican City State shall each cooperate with the Commission, within their respective spheres of competence, at the Commission’s request.

4. In order to implement and bring to fruition the solutions referred to in §2, the Commission, notwithstanding current legislation and without having to seek any authorization, shall have full authority to carry out the necessary acts of ordinary and extraordinary administration. The Commission must report to Us regularly on its activities and decisions, and in any event before adopting acts of particular importance or which have a decisive and significant impact on the Foundation’s assets or which amend its Statutes.

5. The Commission shall consist of its Chair and four other members, including a Coordinator who is delegated powers by the Commission to implement the decisions taken, manage the day-to-day operations of the Commission’s activities, and coordinate the technical staff and consultants. The Commission’s decisions shall be taken by a majority of its members.

6. Meetings of the Commission are convened by its Chair, who sets the agenda, and may also be held via remote connection. Minutes of the Commission’s meetings shall be taken and, to be valid, must be signed by the Chair and the Secretary; these minutes shall also record the resolutions adopted.

7. The Commission shall appoint a Secretary, who may be a person external to the Commission. If the Secretary is external to the Commission, he or she shall attend the Commission’s meetings without the right to vote.

8. The Commission shall be assisted by a Technical Committee consisting of experts in legal and economic matters, acting in an advisory capacity. The members of the Technical Committee shall attend the Commission’s meetings without the right to vote. The Commission shall take into account the recommendations of the Committee’s members and record them in the minutes.

9. I appoint Dr. Maximino Caballero Ledo as Chair of the Commission, Dr. Fabio Gasperini as Coordinator of the Commission, and His Excellency Monsignor Paolo Rudelli, His Excellency Monsignor Giordano Piccinotti, and His Excellency Monsignor Giorgio Ferretti and members. I appoint Dr Benjamín Estévez de Cominges, Dr Gino Gumirato, and Mr Alessandro Ela Oyana to the Technical Committee.

10. The Commission is established from the date of this Chirograph. It shall be dissolved, once its task is completed, at Our behest.

I decree that the provisions herein shall have immediate, full and permanent effect, notwithstanding any provision to the contrary, even if worthy of special mention.

I order that this Chirograph be promulgated by publication in L’Osservatore Romano, taking effect immediately, and subsequently published in the official compendium of the Acta Apostolicae Sedis.

Given at the Vatican on 27 May of the year 2026, the second of my Pontificate.

LEO PP. XIV

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Holy See Press Office Bulletin, 27 May 2026