Pope calls on Vatican to be 'exemplary and transparent' in economic activities
Speaking at the inauguration of the Judicial Year of the Vatican City State, Francis says that "We are called - his words - to witness, concretely and credibly, in our respective roles and tasks, to the immense patrimony of values that characterize the mission of the church".
Vatican City (AsiaNews) - The fact of being "marginal" in the economic world does not exempt the Vatican, both as an institution and as individuals, "from a particular duty of witness".
The peculiarity of the reality of the Vatican even in the field of the administration of justice was evoked by Pope Francis on the occasion of today's inauguration of the 92nd Judicial Year of the Tribunal of the Vatican City State.
He said: "We are called to witness, concretely and in a credible way, in our respective roles and tasks, to the immense patrimony of values that characterizes the mission of the Church, her being 'salt and light' in society and in the international community, especially in times of crisis like the present one."
In the same logic, Francis asked that "the initiatives recently launched and those to be taken for the absolute transparency of the institutional activities of the Vatican State, especially in the economic and financial field, should always be inspired by the founding principles of ecclesial life and, at the time himself, take due account of the parameters and 'good practices' current at the international level, and appear exemplary, as is required of a reality such as the Catholic Church ”.
“All the operators in this sector, and all the holders of institutional offices - he added - should therefore adopt a conduct which, while denoting an effective repentance - where necessary - regarding the past, is also irreproachable and exemplary for the present and the future. On this point, in perspective it will be necessary to take into account the priority need that - also through appropriate legislative changes - in the current procedural system, equality between all members of the Church and their equal dignity and position emerge, without privileges dating back over time and no longer consonant with the responsibilities that belongs to each in building the Church. This requires solidity of faith and coherence of behavior and actions”.
Before the Pope, the Promoter of Justice, Gian Piero Milano, had highlighted some changes made within the Vatican structures, regarding the surveillance and prevention of financial crimes, adding that "despite these changes, the path in the work of reforms it is far from complete, as there are still gaps and inconsistencies in many sectors”.
A need reiterated by the Pope who spoke of "further reforms in the criminal field, especially for the contrast and repression of financial crimes, and the intensification of other activities aimed at facilitating and expeditious international cooperation between Vatican investigative bodies and similar institutions of other nations, as well as by the initiatives taken by the judicial police of our state. In this regard, it now appears that it cannot be deferred to identify and introduce, by means of specific rules or memoranda of understanding, new and more incisive forms of cooperation, as requested by the supervisory institutions of financial markets operating internationally. In this context, I hope that an interlocution at the competent level can soon be reached, in order to make collaboration more prompt and effective”.
To those who work "for the cause of justice - an eminent cardinal virtue - not to be afraid of wasting time dedicating an abundance of it to prayer". “In prayer, and only in it - he underlined - we draw from God, from his Word, that inner serenity that allows us to fulfill our duties with magnanimity, fairness, foresight. The language of painting and sculpture often represents Justice intent, with one hand, to weigh opposing interests or situations with the scales, and ready, with the other hand, to defend the just with the sword. The Christian iconography then adds to the previous artistic tradition a detail of no small importance: the eyes of Justice are not blindfolded, but turned upwards, and they look up at Heaven, because - he concluded - only in Heaven does true justice exist. ".
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