Pope Francis visited the meeting of the Council of Cardinals for the Study of the Organisational and Economic Problems of the Holy See. The latter's budget for 2012 shows a surplus of € 2,185,622 (US$ 2.8 million); that of the Governorate shows a surplus of € 23,079,800 (US$ 27 million). However, because of the crisis, Peter's Pence, i.e. the offerings of the faithful to support the charity of the Holy Father, dropped from US$ 69,711,722.76 in 2011 to US$ 65,922,637.08 in 2012.

Vatican City (AsiaNews) - Despite a crisis that has especially affected donations, the consolidated financial statements for 2012 of the Holy See and of the Governorate of Vatican City State showed a surplus. They were presented on Tuesday and Wednesday at the meeting of the Council of Cardinals for the Study of the Organisational and Economic Problems of the Holy See. During the meeting, encouragement was given to Curia reforms, including reforms to the Vatican's economic institutions. Such changes must be "first and foremost of an apostolic nature," said Vatican Press Office director Fr Federico Lombardi, but must also involve management as well as organisation.

Chaired by Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone, the meeting was particularly noteworthy for the pope's visit yesterday. According to the communiqué released afterwards, the Pontiff "addressed the speakers and engaged in a brief dialogue, reiterating the aims and purpose of the Council and inviting the continuation of periodical meetings."

As for reforms and the simplification of the Roman Curia, the statement also noted the intervention of Mgr Vallejo Balda, who "focused on four areas-the Holy See-Roman Curia, the Holy See-Pastoral, the Holy See-Charity and Vatican City State-which together form the integrated financial statement of the two entities in question," as well as that of IOR president Ernst Von Freyborg, who "gave a presentation to the Cardinal Fathers on the Institute's current situation, followed by a broad discussion on suitable clarifications."

As for the Vatican's actual economic situation, the statement said, "The consolidated financial statement for the Holy See for the year 2012 closes with a profit of 2,185,622, due mainly to good performance in financial management. The most significant categories of expenditure are those regarding the cost of personnel, numbering 2,823 units on 31 December 2012, means of social communication considered in their entirety, and the new property taxes (IMU) which resulted in an increase in expenditure of  5,000,000 compared to previous figures."

"The Governorate has an autonomous Administration independent from contributions of the Holy See and, through its various Directions, provides for the needs relating to the management of the State. The 2012 financial statement, while affected by the global economic climate, closed with a profit of 23,079,800, an increase of over a million euros compared to that of the previous year. A total of 1,936 were employed on 31 December 2012."

"Peter's Pence, the contributions offered by the faithful in support of the Holy Father's charity, passed from US$ 69,711,722.76 in 2011, to US$ 65,922,637.08, registering a reduction of 11.91%. Further contributions to the Holy See on the part of the Institutes of Consecrated Life, Societies of Apostolic Life and Foundations passed from US$ 1,194,217.78, in 2011, to US$ 1,133,466.91, with a reduction of 5.09%. In total, therefore, there has been a decrement of 7.45% compared to the total in US dollars recorded in 2011."

"The Institute for the Works of Religion (IOR), as each year, offered the Holy Father a significant sum in support of his apostolic and charitable ministry. For 2012 this was a sum of  50,000,000, to which  1,000,000 is to be added for the Amazon Fund,  1,500,000 for the Pro orantibus Fund (support for cloistered monasteries),  1,500,000 for the San Sergio Fund (support for the Church in the former Soviet Union),  1,000,000 for the Commission for Latin America, and other minor donations."

"The Cardinal Fathers reflected on the data presented in the financial statements, verifying the positive results attained, and encouraged the reform necessary to reduce costs through the simplification and rationalisation of existent bodies, as well as more careful planning of the activities of all administrations. The Members of the Council expressed their deep gratitude for the support given, often anonymously, to the Holy Father's universal ministry in spite of moments of economic crisis, and encouraged perseverance in this good work."

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