Pope Francis has banned visible tattoos for employees of St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City years after he reportedly said body ink could be useful in better understanding the personalities of parishioners.
A new set of rules was released on Saturday prohibiting staff of the Papal Basilica from having visible tattoos or piercings, with employees who disregard the new rules risking suspension, according to Crux.
The basilica’s communications director, Father Enzo Fortunato, told Reuters that the new rules codify norms that “have been in place in the past in a different form.”
In the Holy Name of Jesus, through the authority of the natural law and my baptism, through the merits of the Passion, Death, Resurrection, and Ascension of our Lord Jesus and His sending of the Holy Spirit, I decommission this tattoo and break and sever each and every connection between this tattoo and the Evil One and his associates. I ask you Heavenly Father to drive out any demons that may have attached themselves to me as a result of this tattoo and that you purify the ink that was used to make it. I ask that you sever each and every connection between the image and each and every demon who may have attached themselves to me as a result of the tattoo. In the name of Jesus, I nullify each and every claim or rights demons may assert to have over me due to any magical images, symbols or scripts incorporated into the tattoo. And through the sign of the Cross (make the sign of the cross over the tattoo. Use exorcised oil if possible), I consecrate myself to our Lord Jesus Christ through the Immaculate hands of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. [This prayer is especially appropriate for anyone with a demonic or evil tattoo, a tattoo that was cursed or has a connection to the demonic, or any tattoo that is resulting in evil effects.]