Vatican Fashion Police?

The Vatican City has been generating more interest than usual lately with last week's public discussions of how the Sistine Chapel's high volume of human traffic is damaging the building's famous frescoes.  However, the Vatican has already easily topped themselves.  This week, Jaunted picked up a story that the Italian wire service ANSA reported on the dress code inside the Vatican City this summer.

For anyone who has never visited a major church in Europe, there are usually some loose rules on what clothing is and isn't allowed.  In general, midriffs, shoulders, and knees must be covered.  Shorts are generally allowed but must be at least knee length.  Similar rules apply for skirts/dresses.  For (mostly) women with bare shoulders (it's hot in Europe in the summer!), a shawl wrapped around them is almost always acceptable.  In fact, some churches provide free paper ones for this reason.  In other places, small vendors can often be found within a short distance from the entrance of the church that will be very glad to sell a cheap shawl for a few Euros.  This is all very normal in Europe.  You'll see it at the Basilicas of Notre Dame in Paris, St. Mark's in Venice, and St. Peter's in the Vatican.

I have never had a problem with these type of rules.  You are entering (usually) an ancient and (always) sacred site.  A certain modicum of decorum and respect is fair to be expected.  However, the Swiss Guard have been reportedly stopping "unsuitably dressed" people from even entering St. Peter's Square or any other part of the Vatican City.  ANSA reports of the Swiss Guard hassling a 70-year-old Roman woman attempting to enter the Vatican who was stopped because of her sleeveless dress.  After eventually being let in, she quipped "Given all the scandals the Church has been involved in, what possible right can it have to be preaching about the morality of sleeveless dresses?"

Although there aren't exactly strict requirements on crossing the border between Italy and the Holy See, it is definitely its own independent nation.  Other than St Peter's Basilica, the Papal residences, and other church buildings, the Vatican City also contains a post office, pharmacy, and a small store.  The pharmacy offers a wider range of medication often at lower prices than the pharmacies in Rome.  As a result, many Romans frequent the Vatican just to fill their prescriptions.

Although St. Peter's Square often serves as an amphitheatre for Papal addresses and other official ceremonies in the Vatican, it is not itself a holy site.  I'm not sure I understand the need to prevent people who are "unsuitably dressed" from entering the country and just enjoying the magnificent architecture.  If they choose to enter St. Peter's Basilica, the Vatican museum, the Sistine Chapel, or any of the other holy buildings contained inside the Vatican, then that is a completely different story.  I foresee a booming business in small vendors selling their cheap shawls in the area around the Vatican if these rules continue to be strictly enforced.