The Pope’s "revolution" of Vatican finances and administration is underway
Vatican City (AsiaNews) - Improving the
economic and administrative management
of the Holy See and the Vatican City State to
"address
identified weaknesses and risks while also creating a new platform for improved
economic management in the future": This is how Cardinal George
Pell, prefect of the Economic Secretariat
today described the major reforms which now or in a few months,
will change the face of the economic
structure and administration
of the Vatican, according to the wishes
of Pope Francis .
The reforms which principally dealt with the IOR, the "Vatican Bank" which
has been dogged by disputes and complaints
over the years. But they also
concerns the APSA, the pension fund as well as the entire Holy See media system. "There are - the
cardinal said many
challenges and much work ahead. The Holy Father has made it clear these
changes should move forward expeditiously".
In particular:
"1. APSA
The Ordinary Section of APSA is transferred to the Secretariat for the Economy. This is an important step to enable the Secretariat for the Economy to exercise its responsibilities of economic control and vigilance over the agencies of the Holy See, including policies and procedures concerning purchasing and the suitable allocation of human resources as defined in the Motu Proprio Fidelis Dispensator et Prudens.
The remaining staff of APSA will begin to focus exclusively on its role as a Treasury for the Holy See and the Vatican City State. A key early task will be continuing the work of establishing close relationships with all major Central banks as recommended by MoneyVal, which will continue to ensure the liquidity and financial stability of the Holy See. All sovereign institutions will have an account at APSA which will serve as a Treasury for them.
2. PENSION FUND
The Council for the Economy has appointed a technical committee to study the situation of the Pension Fund and to make proposals to the Council for the Economy before the end of the year. The Council recognized and acknowledged that the pensions being paid today and for the next generation are safe but the fund needs to ensure there are sufficient funds for future generations in a changing environment. Many Western countries have faced challenges in their pension system over the last years. It is anticipated that new statutes would be prepared by the end of 2014 to adapt the Pension Fund's organization to the new economic-administrative structure of the Holy See.
The technical committee will be headed by the Council's Prelate Secretary Mons. Brian Ferme. Four lay experts will contribute their professional experience and expertise: Mr. Bernhard Kotanko (Austria), Mr. Andrea Lesca (Italy), Mr. Antoine de Salins (France), Prof. Nino Savelli (Italy). In addition, there will be representatives from of the Council for the Economy, the Secretariat of State and the Pension Fund.
3. VATICAN MEDIA
A committee has been appointed to propose reforms for the Vatican Media. The committee will publish a report and a reform plan within the next 12 months after considering the COSEA report. The objectives are to adapt the Holy See media to changing media consumption trends, enhance coordination and achieve progressively and sensitively substantial financial savings. Building on the recent positive experiences with initiatives such as the Pope App and the Holy Father's Twitter Account, digital channels will be strengthened to ensure the Holy Father's messages reach more of the faithful around the world, especially young people.
The members of the committee come from Vatican staff and from senior international experts. They have been chosen for their expertise in communications while reflecting the universality of the Catholic Church. Senior international experts: Lord Christopher Patten (UK, will act as President of the committee), Mr. Gregory Erlandson (USA), Ms. Daniela Frank (Germany), Fr. Eric Salobir OP (France), Ms. Leticia Soberon (Spain, Mexico), and Mr. George Yeo (Singapore). Vatican staff: Mons. Paul Tighe (Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, will act as Secretary of the committee), Giacomo Ghisani (Vatican Radio), Mons. Carlo Maria Polvani (Secretariat of State), Mons. Lucio Adrián Ruiz (Vatican Internet Service) and Prof. Giovanni Maria Vian (L'Osservatore Romano).
4. IOR
Following the
confirmation of the IOR's mission by the Holy Father on 7 April 2014 and under
the guidance of the Secretariat for the Economy and its Council, the IOR has
announced plans for the next stage of development.
The Holy Father's Council of Cardinals (C9), the Secretariat for the Economy, the Supervisory Commission of Cardinals and the current IOR Board of Superintendence have jointly agreed that this plan shall be carried out by a new executive team led by Jean-Baptiste de Franssu.
He will assume office as new President of the IOR on July 9, 2014. Ernst von Freyberg has agreed to serve a period of transition to ensure an orderly hand-over.
Jean-Baptiste de Franssu said "it's an honour to have been called to implement the changes that are now required to further transform the IOR into a dedicated service provider for the Church".
Over the next three years, the IOR's Statutes will be revised and its operations redesigned, following a set of three strategic priorities:
1. Strengthening the business foundation for IOR;
2. Gradually shift assets under management to a newly created, central Vatican Asset Management (VAM), in order to overcome duplication of efforts in this field among Vatican institutions;
3. Focus IOR on financial advice and payment services for clergy, congregations, dioceses and lay Vatican employees.
The IOR is in a phase of peaceful transition. The first stage of the reforms, led by Ernst von Freyberg has been completed. Excellent progress has been made through adherence to international standards and the resultant transparency is evident in the second annual report which was fully audited by Deloitte. A new anti-money-laundering (AML) framework has been put in place and every effort continues to be made to comply with this framework. The internal compliance department, supported by Promontory has closely reviewed 18,000 clients. Von Freyberg's leadership in this first stage has cleared the decks for the beginning of the next phase to be led by President-elect Jean-Baptiste de Franssu who will devote himself full-time to his new task. Because of other commitments, President von Freyberg is unable to dedicate himself full-time to IOR duties.
In the different financial agencies reporting to the Secretariat for the Economy, a general pattern of clerical-lay expert cooperation has been followed. The exact nature of this governmental cooperation at IOR is yet to be determined. The five members of the Commissione Cardinalizia will continue their involvement and will be joined by Cardinal Josip Bozanic of Zagreb, Croatia. They are Cardinal Santos Abril y Castello (Archpriest of the Papal Basilica of St Mary Major), Cardinal Thomas Christopher Collins (Archbishop of Toronto), Cardinal Pietro Parolin (Secretary of State), Cardinal Christoph Schönborn (Archbishop of Vienna) and Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran (President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue).
Six new lay members will be appointed to the Board of IOR including Mr. Jean-Baptiste de Franssu (France, as President), Mr. Clemens Boersig (Germany), Prof. Mary Ann Glendon (USA) and Sir Michael Hintze (UK).
Monsignor Alfred Xuereb, Secretary-General of the Secretariat for the Economy will be non-voting Secretary of the Board of IOR.
Monsignor Battista Ricca remains as the Prelate of the IOR.
The full text by Card. Pell is on http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2014/07/09/0509/01131-1.html
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24/03/2023 13:21
