ARCHBISHOP MAMBERTI: LAW XVIII STRENGTHENS MEASURES AGAINST MONEY LAUNDERING AND THE FINANCING OF TERRORISM

Vatican City, 9 October 2013 (VIS) – Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, secretary for Relations with States, in a text focusing in detail on the content of the new law on transparency, supervision and financial information, mentions first that a significant part of the law is dedicated to measures against money laundering and the financing of terrorism, and gives details on the “individuals, the activity of risk assessment, prescriptions concerning suitable checks on counterparties … and the discipline of the international transfer of funds”, strengthened when these two criminal activities are suspected.

“Special attention is dedicated to giving information on suspicious activities, which obligated subjects are required to carry out before the Financial Information Authority”, continues Archbishop Mamberti. “In the case of a valid reason to suspect activities of money laundering or financing of terrorism, the Financial Information Authority transmits a detailed report to the Promoter of Justice and may also suspend transactions and operations under suspicion for up to five working days.”

“The system of prescriptions regarding measures against money laundering and the financing of terrorism is completed by the attribution, again to the Financial Information Authority, of a power of general supervision in relation to the implementation of the measures established by law on the part of obligated subjects, as well as a structured system of administrative sanctions that can be applied by the Authority or, in the most serious cases, by the president of the Governorate, upon suggestion by the Financial Information Authority”.

“A relevant area of the discipline introduced by Law XVIII is included in the section regarding 'Prudential supervision of bodies engaged in professional activities of a financial nature', or rather, those who regularly carry out a financial activity in an organised economic form, in the name of or on behalf of third parties, for the purposes of the production or exchange of goods or services. The introduction of this function … responds to a specific recommendation from the MONEYVAL Division of the Council of Europe, and Law No XVIII establishes the discipline of this activity by conceding broad-ranging powers of regulation to the Financial Information Authority”.

With reference to measures against individuals who threaten peace and international security, the archbishop explained that the provision of goods, economic resources and financial services is automatically denied to listed individuals, and the Financial Information Authority may immediately place a preventative block on their goods and resources, informing those subjects who carry out financial activities. In addition, cautionary measures may be adopted in relation to an individual not yet included on the list in the case of valid reasons to suspect that he or she poses a threat to peace and international security and provided that the subject is added to the list within fifteen-day period”.

With regard to the provisions of the Law in relation to the cross-border transportation of cash of a value of more than 10,000 euros, entering or leaving a State, and the legislation regarding information and co-operation, the prelate underlined “the central role attributed to the Financial Information Authority which collaborates and exchanges information both with other authorities of the Holy See and Vatican City State, and with analogous authorities in other States, in conditions of reciprocity and on the basis of agreement protocols”.

OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

Vatican City, 9 October 2013 (VIS) - Today, the Holy Father elevated the territorial prelature of Coari (area 135,442, population 216,000, Catholics 182,700, priests 15, religious 20), Brazil, to the rank of diocese, with the same territorial configuration and name as before. He appointed Bishop Marek Marian Piatek, C.SS.R., as first bishop of the new diocese. Bishop Piatek, previously bishop prelate, was born in Tuchow, Poland in 1954, was ordained to the priesthood in 1980, and received episcopal ordination in 2011.

FRANCIS CONVENES EXTRAORDINARY SYNOD ON THE FAMILY FOR OCTOBER 2014

Vatican City, 8 October 2013 (VIS) – The Holy See Press Office today announced that Holy Father Francis has convened the Third Extraordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, to be held in the Vatican from 5 to 19 October 2014, on the theme “The pastoral challenges of the family in the context of evangelisation”.

In the Chapter of the Code of Canon Law relating to synodal assemblies, the Synod of Bishops meets in an extraordinary general assembly when the matter under consideration, while related to the good of the universal Church, requires rapid definition.

“It is very important that an extraordinary Synod has been convoked on the theme of the pastoral of the family”, said the director of the Holy See Press Office, Fr. Federico Lombardi, S.J. “This is the way in which the Pope intends to promote reflection and to guide the path of the community of the Church, with the responsible participation of the episcopate from different parts of the world”.

“It is right”, he added, “that the Church should move as a community in reflection and prayer, and that she takes common pastoral directions in relation to the most important points – such as the pastoral of the family – under the guidance of the Pope and the bishops. The convocation of the extraordinary Synod clearly indicates this path. In this context, the proposal of particular pastoral solutions by local persons or offices carries the risk of engendering confusion. It is opportune to emphasise the importance of following a path in full communion with the ecclesial community”.

Fr. Lombardi mentioned that yesterday Pope Francis attended the meeting of the Secretariat of the Synod, taking place during these days in Via della Conciliazione.

POPE FRANCIS TO WELCOME THE ORIGINAL STATUE OF THE VIRGIN OF FATIMA

Vatican City, 8 October 2013 (VIS) – On Saturday, 12 October, at 5 p.m. in St. Peter's Square, Pope Francis will preside over a prayer on the occasion of the Marian Day convoked in the context of the Year of Faith and will receive the original statute of the Virgin of Fatima, which normally resides in the Portuguese sanctuary of the same name. The bullet which struck Blessed John Paul II in the assassination attempt of13 May 1981, is set into the crown of the statue.

On Sunday, 13 October, at 10.30 a.m., again in St. Peter's Square, the Holy Father will celebrate Holy Mass on the Marian Day.

HOLY FATHER'S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR OCTOBER

Vatican City, 8 October 2013 (VIS) - The Holy Father's general prayer intention for October is: "That those feeling so crushed by life that they wish to end it may sense the nearness of God's love."

His mission intention is: "That the celebration of World Mission Day may help all Christians realise that we are not only receivers but proclaimers of God's word."