Vatican
City, 19 July 2013 (VIS) – Pope Francis has written a Chirograph,
dated 18 July, by which he establishes a Pontifical Commission for
Reference on the study and guidance of the organisation of the
economic-administrative structure of the Holy See, the full text of
which is given below:
“The
deliberations of these days on the positive data in the financial
statements, communicated by the Council of Cardinals for the study of
organisational and economic problems of the Holy See: Consolidated
Financial Statement and Financial Statement of the Governorate of
Vatican City State for the year 2012 lead Us, having heard the
opinion of Most Eminent Cardinals, Brothers in the Episcopate and
collaborators consulted on the matter, to continue in the work of
introducing reforms in the Institutions of the Holy See, aspiring to
the simplification and rationalisation of the existing bodies and
more careful planning of the economic activities of all the Vatican
Administrations.
To
this end, We have decided to establish a Commission for reference to
gather accurate information on economic questions regarding the
Vatican Administrations and to co-operate with the aforementioned
Council of Cardinals in its valuable work, offering the technical
support of specialist advice and developing strategic solutions for
improvement, so as to avoid the misuse of economic resources, to
improve transparency in the processes of purchasing goods and
services; to refine the administration of goods and real estate; to
work with ever greater prudence in the financial sphere; to ensure
the correct application of accounting principles; and to guarantee
healthcare and social security benefits to those eligible.
The
Commission is to carry out its duties in accordance with this
Chirograph and with Our provisions currently in force:
1.
The Commission shall consist of a minimum of eight Members, including
a President, who is its legal representative, and a Secretary
Coordinator who has the powers of a delegate and acts on behalf of
and for the Commission, collecting documents, data, and the
information necessary for the fulfilment of its institutional
functions.
2.The
Members, all nominated by the Supreme Pontiff, are experts in the
relevant legal, economic, financial and organisational matters.
3.
The institutional functions of the Commission shall not encroach upon
the sphere of competence of the government and the activities of the
Administrations concerned, which shall collaborate with the
Commission upon request. Professional secrecy and other possible
restrictions established by law shall neither curtail nor restrict
the access of the Commission to documents, data and information
necessary for the fulfilment of the duties entrusted to it.
4.
The Commission shall keep Us informed of its activities in the course
of its work and shall deliver to Us the results obtained. It shall
deliver to Us its entire paper and digital archive upon the
conclusion of its mandate.
5.
The Commission shall have at its disposal the appropriate resources,
including interpreters and translators, and instruments for its
institutional functions. It may avail itself of qualified experts and
consultants to be enlisted worldwide, from outside the Holy See, or
from within the Holy See provided that this does not give rise to any
conflict of interest in the exercise of professions or the fulfilment
of functions and roles connected with the activities of the Vatican
Administrations.
6.
The Commission shall collaborate, upon request, with the Working
Group of eight Cardinals constituted to draft a plan of reform for
the Apostolic Constitution Pastor Bonus on the Roman Curia.
7.
The Commission’s activities shall take effect as from the date of
this Chirograph. The dissolution of the Commission shall be
announced.
Given
in the Vatican on 18 July 2013, in the first year of my Pontificate.
Francesco”
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