Vatican defends Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples
(June 29, 2010) The Vatican's congregation that oversees missionary work is an indispensable
organization for the Church, a Vatican statement affirmed on Monday. The Vatican
press office issued a note responding to certain media reports, above all in Italy,
which questioned activities undertaken by the Congregation for the Evangelization
of Peoples from 2001 to 2006, including the sale of a property. The prefect at that
time was the current archbishop of Naples, Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe, an Italian.
The Vatican statement clarified that the congregation, which is also known by its
former name "Propaganda Fide," "has the task of directing and coordinating all over
the world the work of evangelization and missionary cooperation." It first objective
is "guiding and supporting the young Churches, situated in territories of recent or
scarce evangelization, territories that in virtue of a long tradition, are entrusted
to the dicastery in what refers to every aspect of ecclesial life." To this end
the congregation manages numerous institutions for formation and university hostels
in Rome. This as well as maintenance of dioceses and Church territories around the
world requires enormous financial resources that are mainly raised through the congregation’s
annual collection and income from its various holdings. The Vatican explained that
this patrimony has developed over decades from numerous donations from benefactors
of every origin, who have wanted to leave part of their goods to the service of the
cause of evangelization.