Pope Francis Establishes new Vatican Secretariat for Economy
Vatican City, 24 February 2014: Pope Francis has issued on Monday a Motu Proprio announcing
the setting up of a new financial structure to coordinate and oversee the finances
of the Holy See and Vatican City State. Australian Cardinal George Pell of Sydney
will head the new Secretariat.
We publish below the full text of Pope Francis'
Apostolic Letter issued Motu proprio, “Fidelis et dispensator Prudens”, and dated
24 February 2014.
“Like a faithful and prudent manager who has the task
of carefully looking after what has been entrusted to him, the Church is aware of
her responsibility to protect and manage her assets, in the light of her mission of
evangelisation and with particular care for those in need. In a special way, the management
of the economic and financial sectors of the Holy See is intimately linked to its
specific mission, not only in the service of the universal ministry of the Holy Father,
but also in relation to the common good, with a view to the full development of the
human person.
After having carefully consulted the results of the work of the
Commission for Reference on the the Organisation of the Economic-Administrative Structure
of the Holy See (cf. Chirograph of 18 July 2013), and after consultation with the
Council of Cardinals for the reform of the Apostolic Constitution 'Pastor Bonus' and
with the Council of Cardinals for the study of economic and administrative problems
of the Holy See, by this Apostolic Letter issued Motu proprio, I adopt the following
measures:
COUNCIL FOR THE ECONOMY
1. The Council for the Economy is
hereby instituted, with the task of offering guidance on economic management and supervising
the structures and the administrative and financial activities of the Dicasteries
of the Roman Curia, of the Institutions connected to the Holy See, and of Vatican
City State. 2. The Council for the Economy is composed of fifteen members, eight
of whom are nominated from among the Cardinals and Bishops in order to reflect the
universality of the Church, and seven of whom are lay experts of various nationalities,
with recognised professional financial competences. 3. The Council for the Economy
shall be presided over by a Cardinal coordinator.
SECRETARIAT FOR THE ECONOMY
4.
The Secretariat for the Economy is hereby instituted, as a Dicastery of the Roman
Curia in accordance with the Apostolic Constitution 'Pastor Bonus'. 5. Notwithstanding
the provisions for the Council for the Economy, the Secretariat will report directly
to the Holy Father and will undertake the economic audit and supervision of the Bodies
indicated in point 1 above, along with the policies and procedures regarding procurement
and the allocation of human resources, respecting the competences of each Body. The
competence of the Secretariat will extend to all matters that in any way fall within
this area. 6. The Secretariat for the Economy shall be presided over by a Cardinal
Prefect, who shall collaborate with the Secretary of State. A Prelate Secretary General
will assist the Cardinal Prefect.
AUDITOR GENERAL
7. The Auditor-General
shall be appointed by the Holy Father and shall prepare the audit of the accounts
of the Bodies referred to in point 1.
THE STATUTES
8. The Cardinal Prefect
shall be responsible for drawing up the definitive Statues of the Council for the
Economy, the Secretariat for the Economy, and the Office of the Auditor-General. The
Statutes shall be presented quam primum for approval by the Holy Father.
I
dispose that all that is established herein have immediate, full and permanent value,
abrogating any incompatible measures, and that the present Apostolic Letter issued
Motu proprio be published in the Osservatore Romano of 24 February 2014 and subsequently
in the Acta Apostolicae Sedis.
Given in Rome, St. Peter's, on 24 February of
the year 2014, the first of my Pontificate.” source: VIS