Crime in Vatican City

Crime in the Vatican City mostly involves small thefts, like taking bags or stealing from shops. These actions are usually done by tourists to other tourists. One of the busiest places for these small crimes is St. Peter's Square, where many visitors walk around. Because so many people visit Vatican City, there are often chances for people to take things from others without them noticing. The city works hard to keep everyone safe, but small thefts can still happen in busy areas.

Petty crimes per capita

Vatican City is very small, so some numbers look strange. Every year, about 18 million visitors come to the city. The most common crime here is petty theft, like taking bags or picking pockets. These crimes usually happen to visitors and are done by other visitors.

Policing

Main articles: Corps of Gendarmerie of Vatican City, Swiss Guard, and Law of Vatican City

The Corps of Gendarmerie of Vatican City is the police and security force for Vatican City. They keep order, watch the borders, manage traffic, and look into crimes. They also protect the pope when he is outside Vatican City. There are 130 people in this group, and they work with the Security and Civil Defence Services Department.

The Pontifical Swiss Guards protect the pope and the Apostolic Palace.

Because of agreements with Italy, Italian police usually watch over St. Peter's Square, but not the area right in front of the basilica. If Vatican City needs help with a crime, Italy can help with the trial and detention, and Vatican City pays the costs. Vatican City does not have its own prisons, so people who are sentenced to prison serve their time in Italian prisons.

In 1969, Vatican City stopped using capital punishment.

In 2020, Pope Francis made a new rule for the Office of the Promoter of Justice, which is the prosecutor's office.

Notable incidents

A few major events have happened in Vatican City in recent decades.

On May 13, 1981, Pope John Paul II was hurt during an attack by Mehmet Ali Ağca. This event made the Swiss Guard focus more on protection training.

In 1998, the commander of the Swiss Guard, Alos Estermann, and his wife were found dead. A young guard was involved, but the full story remains unclear.

The Vatican Bank faced serious money problems, linked to a big bank failure in Italy. This led to many questions about money handling in the Vatican.

In 2012, secret Vatican documents were shared publicly, showing concerns about possible unfair deals that cost a lot of money. A worker was found guilty and served his time in Vatican City before being forgiven by Pope Benedict XVI.

In 2020, a trial began for a priest accused of harming a young person. In 2024, the priest was found guilty and punished for his actions.