UNITED STATES
National Catholic Reporter
Thomas Reese | Feb. 24, 2014 NCR Today
Pope Francis continues to move ahead with his reform of the Curia by appointing Cardinal George Pell of Sydney as a financial watchdog in the Vatican. His title will be cardinal prefect of the Secretariat for the Economy, a new office that will “undertake the economic audit and supervision” of offices of the Roman Curia, the Vatican City State and institutions connected to the Holy See. The secretariat will also establish “policies and procedures regarding procurement and the allocation of human resources” for the Curia and Vatican City State.
What is not specifically mentioned in Fidelis et dispensator prudens, the motu proprio establishing this new office, is the Institute for the Works of Religion, commonly known as the Vatican bank, although it may be included among “institutions connected to the Holy See.”
Pell will report directly to the pope rather than to the secretary of state, through whom almost everything goes to the pope.
Pope Francis is not the first pope to try to clean up Vatican finances. In 1967, the Prefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See was established. According to Pastor Bonus, it is in charge “of supervising and governing the temporal goods of the administrations that are dependent on the Holy See.” It is responsible for publishing annual financial statements for the Holy See and Vatican City and for producing budget estimates and “inspecting books and documents, if need be.” It had no authority over the Vatican bank.
Sounds a lot like the new office, doesn’t it?
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