The Vatican has banned employees working at St Peter’s Basilica from displaying tattoos or body piercings. The new regulation will apply to all employees of the Fabbrica di San Pietro, the department in charge of the Basilica.

The news came as somewhat as a surprise given the Pope’s previous assertion that the Church should not be ‘afraid’ of tattoos favoured by the younger generation, and that priests can actually learn from them because they often communicate something important about the personality of the person. His relaxed attitude towards ink doesn’t extend to employees of St. Peter’s Basilica however, and the 170 employees – including artists, architects and maintenance workers – are at risk of suspension, should they violate the new rules. The new regulation does not appear to apply to the other 3000 employees working at the Vatican.

As tattoos have increased in popularity, we’ve seen a parallel interest in the rules and laws surrounding their display in work environments. Despite almost 50% of people under 40 now displaying ink on their bodies, many workplaces still force their employees to cover up their tattoos. Few would disagree that offensive tattoos should be banned; Nazi or Klan iconography has no place in the workplace, or, indeed, in civilised society. But what about roses? What about butterflies, mermaids and birds? Who could possibly be offended by such seemingly innocuous designs?

Well many, it would seem. For every example of an employer that allows visible tattoos, you can find several that forbid them. And unfortunately, it’s not always easy to identify a pattern in professions or employers that allow visible ink. Research suggests the rules are applied arbitrarily across all professions. While Virgin Atlantic famously allow cabin crew to openly display their ink, most major airlines prohibit it completely. The majority of the world’s banks and law firms operate strict dress codes forbidding any body modifications other than ear piercings. And while police officers in the U.K and the U.S are now allowed to proudly show off their tats, in Ireland, three trainee Gardai were last year dismissed pending the removal of visible neck and hand tattoos.

Presumably the prevalence of tattoos will eventually change the attitudes of those in positions of power but, for now at least, people get inked at their peril. If you are looking for a job in the Vatican – or anywhere else – it’s wise not to get tattoos that cannot be covered up.