Holy See sees Slight Improvement in Financial Situation Despite Difficulties

(22 Jan 10 - RV) The Holy See's budget forecasts a slight improvement for 2010 despite continuing difficulties: this is according to a statement issued today by the Council of Cardinals for the Study of Organizational and Economic Affairs of the Holy See.

The Council, led by Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, met for two days here at the Vatican, to discuss the consolidated budget of the Holy See and the State budget of the Governatorate of Vatican City for the year 2010.

Archbishop De Paolis, president of the Prefecture for Economic Affairs, presented the consolidated budget for 2010 that covers the income and expenses of the Holy See.

This encompasses all of the Roman Curia, with the exception of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, as well as the "media" institutions connected with the Holy See, namely Vatican Radio, The Vatican Press Office, the newspaper Osservatore Romano, the Vatican Television Center and the Vatican Printing Press.

Among the costs, the largest item is payment of the Vatican’s 2668 employees, a financial burden that is also growing because of the adjustment of wages to the cost of living.

Then there are the costs of Vatican Radio and other media institutions, which, however - says the statement - must be viewed in the context of missionary activity of the Holy See.

The need to make Catholic faithful more sensitive to contributing to specific Church projects for pastoral care was also discussed.

Bishop De Paolis then illustrated the budget for the year 2010 the Governorate of the State of Vatican City. This body manages the property belonging to the Holy See and supports the structures of the Holy See. "From the data submitted to the members of the Council - the statement - that the Administration in question has largely overcome the difficulties of previous years and regained a security that allows it to look with greater confidence to the future".

The statement concludes that Pope Benedict met and spoke with the Council during proceedings “listening to their comments with great interest and thanking them all for their invaluable collaboration”.