**Vatican Couple Rehired by Vatican Bank After Workplace Marriage Dispute**

VATICAN CITY (AP) — A married couple who were fired from the Vatican bank for violating an internal rule prohibiting workplace marriages have been rehired in a negotiated settlement, the union representing Vatican lay employees announced Wednesday.

The union hailed the settlement as “a victory of common sense,” but did not specify when the couple would resume work or what their roles within the bank would be.

The couple, who brought three children between them into their marriage, said they never considered canceling their August 31, 2024 wedding despite learning about the new regulation beforehand. The bank had suggested that one of them resign, but the couple explained that they could not afford this option due to financial responsibilities toward their children, former spouses, and a new mortgage.

While the union celebrated the outcome, it noted that the victory was not complete. Vatican procedures do not allow for the reimbursement of legal fees for the prevailing party. Additionally, the couple lacked social safety nets during the period they were challenging their dismissal. The union also emphasized that the regulation leading to the couple’s termination would likely be considered unconstitutional under Italian law.

The couple themselves have not commented publicly on the settlement. However, when filing their lawsuit, they told The Associated Press they had hoped for an intervention from the late Pope Francis, who was pontiff at the time, given his known emphasis on family values.
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