COMMUNIQUE FROM SECRETARIAT OF STATE ON ESTABLISHMENT OF PONTIFICAL COMMISSION FOR IOR

Vatican City, 26 June 2013 (VIS) – This morning the Secretariat of State issued the following communique:

The Holy Father has appointed a Pontifical Referring Commission to the Institute for the Works of Religion (IOR) with his Chirograph of 24 June, the day before yesterday.

As can be seen from the text of the Chirograph published today, the opportunity to establish a Referring Committee has arisen from the Holy Father's desire to learn more about the Institute's juridical standing and activities in order to allow its better harmonization with the mission of the universal Church and the Apostolic See in the more general context of the reforms that should be carried out by the Institutions that give aid to the Apostolic See.

The Commission's purpose is to gather information on the Institution's operations and present the results to the Holy Father.

As specified in the Chirograph, during the course of the Commission's work, the Institute will continue to operate according to the Chirograph of 1990 that established it, unless otherwise authorized by the Holy Father.

The Commission's purposes and powers are described in more detail in the Chirograph itself.

The members of the Commission are:

Cardinal Raffaele Farina, S.D.B., president

Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, member

Bishop Juan Ignacio Arrieta Ochoa de Chinchetru, coordinator

Msgr. Peter Bryan Wells, secretary

Dr. Mary Ann Glendon, member

The Commission is beginning its work in these days.

The Holy Father hopes for a happy and productive collaboration between the Commission and the Institute.