Memorandum of understanding between the Holy See and Italy for the protection of Rome's historic city centre

Vatican City, 26 November 2015 (VIS) – Today in the in the Palace of the Governorate, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed by the Governorate of Vatican City State and the Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities and Tourism of the Italian Republic on cooperation in the protection and enhancement of cross-border UNESCO site, the “Historic centre of Rome, the extraterritorial properties of the Holy See in the city and St. Paul Outside-the-Walls”, registered in the World Heritage List.

The Memorandum was signed on behalf of the Holy See by Bishop Fernando Vergez Alzaga, L.C., general secretary of the Governorate of Vatican City State, and for the Italian Republic by Antonia Pasqua Recchia, general secretary of the Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities and Tourism.

Given that the cross-border site, “Historic centre of Rome, the extraterritorial properties of the Holy See in the city and St. Paul Outside-the-Walls” necessarily involves both Italy and the Holy See, each in accordance with its own jurisdiction, the Memorandum of Understanding, notwithstanding reciprocal competences and in compliance with its legislation, the Parties undertake to continue their cooperation in the protection and enhancement of the site, as well as the conservation of its exceptional universal value, as established in the Convention Concerning the Protection of World Cultural and Natural Heritage, and the related guidelines.

To reach these objectives, this agreement also institutes a permanent body for mutual cooperation, the “Cross-Border Coordination Group”, to whom the competences of coordination, monitoring, information and the enhancement of the site are conferred.