Speculation Grows Around Vatican Reform and the Future of Its Legal Guardians

As murmurs of transition echo through the halls of the Vatican, speculation swells around what changes a new pontificate might bring. Among the most discussed possibilities is the rumored dismissal of Vatican City’s chief prosecutor Alessandro Diddi and court president Giuseppe Pignatone—colorfully nicknamed “The Cat and the Fox” by their critics, in reference to the cunning duo from the tale of Pinocchio.

While both men have presided over the Holy See’s most consequential legal reforms and trials in recent history—most notably the high-profile Vatican finance scandals—their methods and visibility have sparked internal and external controversy. Critics argue that the legal strategies employed by Diddi and Pignatone have mirrored a judicial culture more aligned with Italian procedural aggressiveness than with the Vatican’s traditionally pastoral mission.

Pignatone, a former high-ranking magistrate in Rome, brought with him a reputation for prosecuting organized crime. Diddi, a seasoned attorney, has been known for his prosecutorial zeal. Together, they’ve spearheaded a campaign to modernize Vatican legal proceedings, but not without backlash from within the Curia and concern from global observers about due process, transparency, and fairness.

The term “Cat and Fox” has circulated among Vatican insiders not merely as an insult, but as a reflection of what some see as a theatrical duo—keen on grand investigations and courtroom narratives, sometimes at the expense of discretion or ecclesial unity. Rumors persist that their influence has grown too independent of papal oversight.

With Pope Francis’ health a subject of ongoing discussion and potential conclave speculation in the air, Vatican watchers are already looking ahead to what a new pontiff might prioritize. Many expect a reset of the judicial framework, particularly if the next pope favors a less combative style of governance. Legal insiders suggest that a new administration may seek figures with deeper ties to canon law traditions and pastoral discretion, rather than the prosecutorial aggressiveness favored in recent years.

At stake is not just the fate of two individuals, but the direction of the Vatican’s justice system. Will it continue to resemble its Italian civil counterpart, or revert to a more insulated ecclesiastical model? The outcome will shape how the Church navigates scandals, reform, and its global credibility in the years to come.

Until then, Diddi and Pignatone remain at their posts, continuing their controversial tenure. But their future may be written not by court proceedings—but by the choice of the next Bishop of Rome. For now, the Cat and the Fox await their fate in a Vatican still cloaked in intrigue.