Vatican City, 4 November 2015 (VIS) –
The following are reflections by Fr. Federico Lombardi, S.J.,
director of the Holy See Press Office, regarding a new chapter in
discussions on the economic matters of the Holy See.
“As is known, a significant part of
what has been published is the result of the disclosure of reserved
information and documents, and therefore of an illicit activity that
must therefore be prosecuted forthwith by the competent Vatican
authorities. But this is not what we now wish to speak about, given
that it is already the object of much attention.
Now, instead, we are interested in
considering the content of the disclosures. It can be said that it
consists mostly of information that is already known, although often
less widely and with less detail, but above all it must be noted that
the documentation published relates mostly to an significant effort
to gather data and information, initiated by the Holy Father himself
in order to carry out a study and reflection on the reform and
improvement of the administrative situation of Vatican City State and
the Holy See.
The COSEA (Commission for Reference on
the Organisation of the Economic-Administrative Structure of the Holy
See), from whose archive the majority of the published information
originates, was instituted by the Pope for the purpose on 18 July
2013 and then dissolved after the fulfilment of its task.
This is not, therefore, information
obtained against the will of the Pope or of the heads of the various
institutions, but generally information obtained or provided with the
collaboration of these same institutions, for a common positive
purpose.
Naturally, a great deal of information
of this type must be studied, understood and interpreted with care,
equilibrium and attention. Often the same data can give rise to
different readings.
An example is that of the situation of
the Pension Funds, in relation to which a series of very different
evaluations has been expressed, from those who speak with concern of
a large “gap”, to those that provide instead a reassuring
interpretation (as resulted from the official Communiqués published
authoritatively through the Holy See Press Office).
Clearly there is then the issue of the
destination and use of goods belonging to the Holy See. Although
regarded in their entirety they appear extremely extensive, they are
in fact aimed at supporting over time the vast range of service
activities managed by the Holy See or connected institutions both in
Rome and in different parts of the world.
The origins of the ownership of these
goods are varied, and the suitable instruments for knowing their
history and development have been available for some time (for
example, it would be useful to refer to the economic agreements
between Italy and the Holy See in the context of the Lateran Pacts
and the work of establishing an effective administration carried out
by Pius XI with the assistance of excellent and expert collaborators,
a work commonly recognised as wise and far-sighted, also in terms of
investments abroad and not only in Rome or Italy).
With regard to Peter’s Pence it is
necessary to observe that it is employed for various purposes, also
in situations, according to the judgement of the Holy Father, in
which it may be given trustfully by the faithful in support of his
ministry. The Pope’s works of charity for the poor are certainly
one of the essential uses, but is certainly not the intention of the
faithful to exclude the possibility that the Pope himself may
evaluate situations of urgency and the way of responding, in the
light of his service for the good of the universal Church. The Pope’s
service also includes the Roman Curia, as an instrument of his
service; his initiatives outside the Diocese of Rome; communication
of his teaching to the faithful in different parts of the world,
including the poor and distant; and the support of the 180 Pontifical
diplomatic representations throughout the world, which serve the
local Churches and intervene as the main agents for distributing the
Pope’s charity in the various countries, as well as the Pope’s
representatives in local governments. The history of Peter’s Pence
illustrates this clearly.
These issues return to the fore
periodically, but are always occasions for curiosity and polemics. It
is necessary to study the situations and specific problems in detail
and with professionalism, so as to be able to recognise much that is
entirely justified, normal and well-managed (much more than is
generally assumed and systematically excluded from the type of
publication under consideration here) including the payment of taxes
due, and to distinguish where there are problems to be corrected,
ambiguities to be clarified, and genuine improprieties or illegal
acts to be eliminated.
This was precisely the aim of the
arduous and complex task initiated at the Pope’s behest with the
constitution of the COSEA, which completed its work some time ago,
and with the decisions and initiatives which are still in the process
of development and implementation (or which are at least in part
followed up by recommendations from the same COSEA at the end of its
work). The reorganisation of the economic Dicasteries, the
appointment of the Reviser general, and the regular working of the
competent institutions for the supervision of economic and financial
activities, etc., are an objective and incontrovertible reality.
The publication in bulk of a large
quantity of different forms of information, in large part linked to a
phase of work by now complete, without the necessary possibility of
further clarification and objective evaluation instead produces the
result – unfortunately largely intentional – of creating the
contrary impression, that of a permanent reign of confusion, lack of
transparency or indeed the pursuit of particular or inappropriate
interests.
Naturally this does not in any way
account for the courage and commitment with which the Pope and his
collaborators have faced and continue to face the challenge of
improving the use of temporal goods in the service of the spiritual.
This, instead, is what would be more greatly appreciated and
encouraged in the correct work of providing information to respond
appropriately to the expectations of the public and the needs of
truth. The path of good administration, correctness and transparency
continues and proceeds without uncertainties. The is evidently Pope
Francis’ wish and the Holy See has no lack of those who collaborate
loyally and to the best of their abilities”.
No comments:
Post a Comment