A/69/44 Degrading Treatment or Punishment. However, it regrets that the report was submitted nine years late. (3) The Committee also appreciates the open and constructive dialogue with the highlevel delegation of the State party and the supplementary information provided during the examination of the report. B. Positive aspects (4) The Committee welcomes the fact that following the ratification of the Convention, the State party acceded to the Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, on 25 January 2012. (5) The Committee also welcomes the State party’s efforts to revise its legislation in areas of relevance to the Convention, including: (a) The issuance motu proprio by Pope Francis of an Apostolic Letter “On the Jurisdiction of Judicial Authorities of Vatican City State in Criminal Matters”, on 11 July 2013. The letter was promulgated and entered into force on 1 September 2013, establishing the exercise of penal jurisdiction by the Judicial Authorities of Vatican City State over crimes whose prosecution is required by international agreements ratified by the Holy See. This modified Holy See legislation, specifically Law No. VIII on Supplementary Norms on Criminal Law Matters, which became effective 1 September 2013, and which incorporates into the legal system the crime of torture, crimes against humanity and a definition of crimes against minors; and Law N. IX which amends the Criminal Code and the Code of Criminal Procedure to provide for jurisdiction over offenses committed by public officials and citizens abroad and to set standards governing extradition, judicial cooperation, mutual legal assistance, and other matters relevant to the Convention; (b) The issuance by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith of a Circular Letter to Assist Episcopal Conferences in Developing Guidelines for Dealing with Cases of Sexual Abuses of Minors Perpetrated by Clerics, on 3 May 2011, which confirms, as established in the 2001 Motu Proprio Sacramentorum Sanctitatis Tutela, that Bishops and Major Superiors are to refer all credible allegations of sexual abuse of minors by clerics to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. The Circular Letter also establishes, in its own words, that “the prescriptions of civil law regarding the reporting of such crimes to the designated authority should always be followed”. (6) The Committee also welcomes the efforts of the State party to amend its policies, programmes and administrative measures to give effect to the Convention, including: (a) The clear condemnation, in the Holy See’s report, of the use of torture and other acts of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment as contrary to the dignity, integrity and identity of the human person and its references to the statements by several Popes against torture and against the death penalty, including Pope Benedict XVI’s reminder, in 2007, to members of the International Commission for Catholic Prison Pastoral Care, which represents prison chaplains from 62 countries, stating “I reiterate that the prohibition against torture cannot be contravened under any circumstances”; (b) The establishment of a Special Office within the Governorate of the Vatican City State to oversee the implementation of international agreements to which the Holy See is a party, on 10 August 2013; (c) The creation of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, on 5 December 2013, to serve as an advisory committee to the Pope, and its members’ statement on 3 May 2014 that they view ensuring accountability as especially important; (d) The statement by Pope Francis, during a meeting with the International Catholic Child Bureau on 11 April 2014, acknowledging the damage done by the sexual 112 GE.14-12596