VATICAN CITY (LifeSiteNews) — Amidst the increasingly convoluted world of the Vatican’s finances, Pope Francis has issued a motu proprio enacting more control over the financial governance of certain entities within the Holy See, but which excludes the “Institutions” of the Roman Curia.
Francis’ motu proprio was issued December 6 and is directed at the “instrumental juridical persons of the Roman Curia.” The document builds upon Francis’ long-anticipated reforms of the Roman Curia – Praedicate Evangelium – issued in March 2022.
His motu proprio is accompanied by a law issued by the Governorate of the Vatican City State, both of which are effective on December 8.
It will reportedly bring the Vatican finances into line with suggestions made in 2021 by the Council of Europe’s Moneyval committee. However, neither the motu proprio nor the new law made mention of this aspect. Instead, Francis cited Praedicate Evangelium as the reason for the reforms.
Entities ‘instrumental’ to Curia must fall under its control
The Pope cited the need to “regulate also the various funds, foundations, and entities that, over the years, have sprung up within the curial institutions and are directly dependent on them.”
Noting that such entities – which he did not name – have “a formally separate juridical personality and a certain administrative autonomy,” Francis stated that since they are “instrumental to the realization of the ends proper to the Curial Institutions in the service of the ministry of the Successor of Peter,” they fall under the “control and supervision of the Economic Bodies of the Roman Curia.”
These entities, also termed “instrumental juridical persons” in the document, can thus be governed directly by the particular office of the Roman Curia on which it is “canonically dependant.” This means a Curial office is afforded wide-reaching powers over the relevant entity in certain instances, such as if the entity does “not meet the requirements of honorability.”
These powers include:
- Appointing directors and legal representatives
- Annulling acts performed by the entity which are contrary to law
- Dissolving the board of directors
- Analyzing the business plan of the body
- Overseeing the minutes of the entity and assessing the draft budget
Consolidating power
The Vatican’s Secretariat for the Economy will retain wide-reaching financial oversight of all such entities, and will also consult with the relevant Curial office on matters relating to the entity’s financial budget approval.
One thing clear from the document is that the Secretariat for the Economy thus appears to gain more control than it had previously. This echoes Praedicate Evangelium in its style of consolidating power to a particular Vatican office, as Praedicate Evangelium clearly posited the Secretariat of State as the most powerful of the newly reformed Vatican’s bodies, upending the hitherto traditional order of the Curia.
READ: Pope Francis reforms Roman Curia, says any layperson can hold ‘governance’ positions in Vatican
Sign the petition to let Abp. Broglio know that you support his stance against the woke mob!
In a thrilling win against the leftist infiltrators in the Church, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) made a key electoral decision at their Fall General Assembly in Baltimore, Maryland last week.
As reported on LifeSiteNews, Archbishop Timothy Broglio of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, was elected Tuesday to serve as the next president of the USCCB.
Broglio has consistently defended Catholic teaching – his orthodox record has been a constant source of frustration to liberal bishops across the country. The military archbishop is one of a small number of prelates who:
- Opposed COVID-era restrictions on public Masses.
- Denounced COVID shot mandates for US Catholic servicemen.
- Supports freedom of conscience exemptions to jab mandates.
- Backed former President Donald Trump’s ban on gender-confused troops.
- Implemented guidelines prohibiting military chaplains from blessing same-sex unions.
- Recognizes homosexuality as a root cause of the clerical sex abuse crisis.
- Stressed that Pope Francis’ affirmation of same-sex unions is NOT Church teaching.
Abp. Broglio has shown support for our pro-life, pro-family, and pro-freedom movement – let’s show our support for him!
Say ‘THANK YOU’ to Abp. Broglio for standing up to left-wing bishops and defending Catholic values!
Tuesday’s election was a clear rejection of decidedly liberal candidates, including pro-LGBT Archbishop Paul Etienne of Seattle and radical leftist Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Síller of San Antonio.
Left-wing Catholics are outraged about the results of the USCCB elections – now more than ever, Abp. Broglio needs the support of faithful Catholics like YOU!
STAND WITH ABP. BROGLIO against the woke mob and left-wing infiltrators of the Church! Add your name to the growing list NOW.
For more information:
Archbishop Broglio elected USCCB president
New USCCB head: Link between clergy sex abuse and homosexual priests ‘can’t be denied’
One aspect of note is that both the Secretariat for the Economy and the relevant Curial office must “always have access” to the particular entity’s documentation. The documentation which an entity is obliged to reveal is extensive and includes the:
- accounting records, supporting documents, and information related to financial transactions
- “identifying” details of associates, beneficial owners, members of governing bodies, volunteer service providers, donors, beneficiaries of the activities or, if this is not possible due to the nature of the services, the categories of beneficiaries.
Who does the motu proprio affect?
While the motu proprio outlines significant powers and responsibilities for the various Curial offices and the Secretariat for the Economy, it is not immediately clear who exactly is affected by the new document.
Pope Francis writes that the motu proprio does not apply to “the Curial Institutions and Offices of the Roman Curia, the Institutions connected with the Holy See and the Governorate of Vatican City State.” The accompanying law furthers adds that Vatican City State “entities that professionally perform activities of a financial nature” are also exempt.
Instead, Francis’ regulations apply only to entities who have their headquarters in the Vatican City State, as laid out in the Statutes of the Council for the Economy. The passage Francis refers to in those Statutes reads as follows:
The Council for the Economy is the body of the Holy See competent to supervise the administrative and financial structures and activities of the dicasteries of the Roman Curia, of the institutions connected to the Holy See or which refer to it, and of the administrations of the Governorate of Vatican City State, indicated in the list attached to the present Statutes.
This passage does not remove the confusion. The Council for the Economy’s Statutes mentions the “Curial Institutions and Offices,” along with other institutions connected with the Holy See and the Vatican City State, but these are already exempted from the new motu proprio. Thus, the Pope’s document still does not mention what entities exist which will be bound by the new text.
What the motu proprio does state is that “existing instrumental juridical persons” must comply with the document within three months.
Murky world of Vatican finances
The new motu proprio and accompanying law appear in the midst of much activity surrounding the Vatican’s finances. Only last week, the prefect for the Secretariat for the Economy – Father Juan Antonio Guerrero Alves S.J., Cardinal George Pell’s immediate successor – announced his imminent retirement due to “personal reasons.” He is being replaced by his deputy.
READ: Cdl. Pell’s successor overseeing Vatican finances resigns, cites ‘personal reasons’
Guerrero had led the Secretariat since 2019. His resignation was effective December 1.
Guerrero’s tenure as prefect saw the Pope transfer power from the Secretariat of State to the Secretariat for the Economy in the wake of mounting scandals in the Secretariat of State.
Meanwhile, the Vatican’s former auditor general – Libero Milone – is suing the Holy See, arguing that he and his deputy were unlawfully fired after Cardinal Angelo Becciu (then No. 2 in the Secretariat of State) unjustly accused them of spying and embezzlement in June of 2017, accusations which, they argue, stemmed from their audit which uncovered widespread corruption within the hierarchy of the Holy See.
That lawsuit is reportedly being stalled by the Vatican, with no reason given.
READ: Vatican rejects lawyer of ex auditor for lawsuit which could reveal major financial corruption
Becciu was himself indicted for corruption in July 2021 by the Vatican Tribunal, along with nine others. He was personally charged with “embezzlement and abuse of office, also in collaboration, as well as subornation,” and is standing trial alongside nine other people connected to the financial scandal surrounding a Vatican property investment in London which he authorized.
READ: Cdl. Becciu says Pope Francis ‘encouraged’ him at meeting as corruption trial continues