Pope: new rules against corruption in the Vatican

Vatican directors and administrators cannot have been convicted or on trial for tax offenses, cannot have assets of any kind in tax havens and cannot receive gifts worth more than 40 euros.

Vatican City (AsiaNews) - Vatican executives and administrators cannot have suffered convictions or be on trial for tax offenses, cannot have assets of any kind in tax havens and cannot receive gifts worth more than 40 euros.

This is the new move by Pope Francis against corruption, in all its forms. In fact, the Apostolic Letter in the form of a Motu Proprio "containing provisions on transparency in the management of public finance" enters into force today.

The new provisions expressly refer to the adhesion of the Holy See to the United Nations Convention against corruption (Merida Convention) and to the 2020 Motu Proprio containing «Regulations on the transparency, control and competition of public contracts of the Holy See and Vatican City State ", but, they explain, "corruption can also occur in different ways and forms in sectors other than procurement, and this is why international regulations and best practices provide for special obligations of transparency for persons holding key positions in the public sector in order to prevent and combat, in every sector, conflicts of interest, patronage and corruption in general."

In concrete terms, all executive levels of the Holy See - Cardinal Heads of Dicasteries or Heads of Institutions, as well as those with active jurisdictional administrative or control and supervisory functions, must sign a declaration at the time of taking office or appointment and every two years, in which they certify that that they have not been convicted of any criminal offence in the Vatican City State or abroad and that they have not benefited from any pardon, amnesty, pardon or other similar measure in relation to the same, or have been acquitted by prescription.

Likewise, they must ensure that they do not have, even through third parties, cash or investments or stakes in companies and businesses in countries with a high risk of money laundering or terrorist financing, in tax havens and that all assets owned by them or even just held, come from lawful activities. Unless the declarant or his relatives up to the third degree are resident in said countries or have established their domicile there for "proven family, work or study reasons" and such availability, as well as any kind of remuneration received, have been declared to the competent tax authorities.

Of particular importance, then, is the assurance "not to hold" shareholdings or "interests" in companies or businesses that operate with purposes contrary to the social doctrine of the Church.

 The Motu Proprio also introduces the prohibition on "accepting or soliciting, for oneself or for subjects other than the Entity in which they serve, for or on the occasion of their office, gifts, presents or other benefits of a value exceeding forty euros ".

The violation of the new provisions represents a "serious offense" for which the Holy See can request compensation for the damage and can also lead to dismissal. And finally, "Where it has reasonable grounds, the Secretariat for the Economy, making use of the structures in charge of this in the Holy See or in the Vatican City State, can carry out checks on the veracity of the declarations presented". (FP)