Two stories in the Catholic media that only came out today because they are about a news event that took place on Saturday nonetheless deserve to be read because they show a more comprehensive summary of the Vatican financial statements for 2009 than earlier reports did. Also, one news agency report had said 'most of the Vatican expenses went to support the Pope's activities' without any attempt to support the lie!
Major renovations, sluggish economy
keep Vatican budgets in the red
By Carol Glatz
VATICAN CITY, July 12 (CNS) -- Major renovations, infrastructure upgrades and a sluggish global economy left the Vatican City State budget in the red; however, donations to the Pope were up from recent years.
The 2009 fiscal period marked the third year in a row that Vatican expenses outpaced revenues.
The budget of Vatican City State, which includes the Vatican Museums and post office, ended 2009 with a deficit of $9.8 million, the Vatican said in notes on the budget released July 10.
The separate budget of the Holy See, which includes the offices of the Roman Curia, finished 2009 with a registered deficit of more than $5.15 million.
The figures were released in early July after a three-day meeting of a council of cardinals charged with reviewing the Vatican budgets.
In explaining the city-state's deficit, the council's press statement mentioned that the Vatican Museums had opened new exhibition spaces and had extended visiting hours, which means the payroll grew.
Vatican City is also launching a major overhaul of its telecommunications infrastructure in which a high-speed fiber optic network will be installed over some 250 miles.
Building, maintenance and restoration work on the colonnade in St. Peter's Square and on the basilicas of St. John Lateran, St. Paul Outside the Walls and St. Mary Major required substantial expenditures, the release said.
In addition, "the costs sustained for security inside Vatican City State" and for the major renovation of the Vatican Library, which should open in September, added to the deficit, it said.
The budget of the Holy See saw $319.6 million in outlays and $314.4 million in revenues including $62.8 million from the Institute for the Works of Religion, otherwise known as the Vatican bank.
Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, head of the Vatican Press office, told journalists July 12 that the institute was just one of a number of foundations that donates money to fund religious activity of the Holy See.
It was the first time the budgetary council publicly listed the institute as a contributor, even though it is a regular donor, he said. It was the highest donor among foundations last year, he added.
The budget of the Holy See includes the Vatican Secretariat of State and its diplomatic missions around the world, Vatican congregations and pontifical councils, the Holy See's investment portfolio and properties, as well as the Vatican's newspaper, radio, publishing house and television production center.
Among expenditures for the Holy See, the most substantial item is the wages of its 2,762 employees. Vatican City State covered the payroll of 1,891 people last year and about 4,587 former employees received pensions from the Vatican.
The Vatican statement included a report on two special sources of income: the Peter's Pence collection, which is used by the pope for charity and emergency assistance; and the contributions of dioceses around the world made to support Vatican operations.
In 2009, Peter's Pence collected $82.5 million, nearly $7 million more than 2008.
Catholics in the United States were the top contributors to Peter's Pence, followed by Catholics in Italy and Germany, it said. But the Vatican added that in relation to their small Catholic populations, the Catholic communities of South Korea and Japan sent significant donations.
The contributions of dioceses amounted to just over $31.5 million, an increase of $2.3 million from the 2008 figure, the Vatican said. Dioceses in the United States gave the most,
followed by dioceses in Germany, the Vatican said.
[I think that says something significant about the Church in Germany - for all its reduced numbers, the remaining members still have contributed more than any other country except the United States (which has some 60 million Catholics against Germany's 25 milli0n(those who state Catholic membership for tqax purposes).]
Here's the Vatican account:
HOLY SEE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR 2009
VATICAN CITY, 10 JUL 2010 (VIS) - The forty-fifth meeting of the Council of Cardinals for the Study of Organisational and Economic Problems of the Holy See was held in the Vatican from 7 to 9 July, under the presidency of Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone S.D.B.
A communique published this afternoon explains that the Holy See consolidated financial statements for 2009, presented to the cardinals during the meeting by Archbishop Velasio De Paolis C.S., president of the Prefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See, show a deficit of 4,102,156 euro, the difference between an income of 250,182,364 euro and outgoings of 254,284,520 euro.
The outgoings are due above all to the ordinary and extraordinary expenses of the dicasteries and offices of the Holy See, which employ 2,762 people of whom 766 are ecclesiastics, 344 religious and 1,652 lay people.
The meeting also examined the consolidated financial statements of the Governorate of Vatican City State for 2009, which show a deficit of 7,815,183 euro. This represents an improvement with respect to last year which showed a loss of more than 15 million euro. A total of 1,891 people work under the jurisdiction of the Governorate.
The communique highlights "the considerable economic and financial burden of protecting, evaluating and restoring the artistic heritage of the Holy See (major restoration work on the Colonnade of St. Peter's Square, and work on the papal basilicas of St. John Lateran, St. Paul's Outside-the-Walls and St. Mary Major).
Equally high costs were sustained for the internal security of Vatican City State and for important restructuring work in the Vatican Apostolic Library, which is due to reopen this September".
Finally the consolidated financial statements of Peter's Pence were also presented. This fund consists of offers made to the Holy Father by the particular Churches, especially for the Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul, and contributions by institutes of consecrated life, societies of apostolic life, foundations and various members of the faithful. In 2009 a total of 65,688,141 euro was raised, an increase with respect to last year.
"The largest contributions [for Peter's Pence] in 2009 came from Catholics in the United States, Italy and France. Particularly significant, considering the number of Catholics, were the contributions from Korea and Japan".
The dioceses, depending on their resources and in keeping with canon 1271 of the Code of Canon Law, donated 25,066,541 euro. The largest donations came from dioceses in the United States, followed by those of Germany.
The communique concludes by noting that the Institute for Works of Religion (IOR) donated some 50 million euros for the activities of the Holy Father.
I do not know why VIS did not simply translate the Press Communique on Saturday, which was far more informative. Since it did not, here is the full translation - and I must admit I should have translated it on Saturday! - because as usual with most news, it is best to go to the original statement
THE FULL COMMUNIQUE
FROM THE VATICAN
Translated from
July 10, 2010
On Wednesday to Friday, July 7-9, the 45th meeting took place of the Council of Cardinals for the STUdy of Organizational and Economic Problems of the Holy See, presided over by the Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, SDB.
Taking part were Cardinals Roger Mahony of Los Angeles (USA), Antonio Maria Rouco Varela of Madrid, Dionigi Tettamanzi of Milan, Wilfrid Fox Napier of Durban (South Africa), Anthony Olubunmi Okogie of Lagos (Nigeria), Juan Luis Cipriani Thorne of Lima (Perù), George Pell of Sydney (Australia), Marc Ouellet of Québec (Canada), Agostino Vallini of Roma, Jorge Liberato Urosa Savino of Caracas (Venezuela), Nicholas Cheong Jinsuk of Seoul (South Korea), and Odilo Pedro Scherer of São Paulo (Brazil).
The Prefecture for Economic Affairs of the Holy See was represented by its president, Archbishop Velasio De Paolis, C.S.; its secretary, Mons. Vincenzo Di Mauro, and its general auditor, Dott. Stefano Fralleoni.
The Governatorate of Vatican City State and the Administration of the Holy See Patrimony (APSA) were represented by Cardinal Giovanni Lajolo and Mons. Carlo Maria Vigano, president and secretary general of the Governatorate, and by Cardinal Attilio Nicora and Mons. Domenico Calcagno, president and secretary-general, respectively of APSA.
At the invitation of the Secretary of State, Fr. Federico Lombardi, SJ, director of Vatican Radio, and Dott. Alberto Gasbarri, coordinator of papal trips, presented reports affecting their respective competencies.
The Council of Cardinals discussed the following reports:
- Consolidated Financial Statement of the Holy See for 2009
- Financial Statement of the Governatorate of Vatican City State for 2009
- Peter's Pence and contributions raised in 2009 (according to Can. 1271 of the Code of Canon Law).
Mons. De Paolis discussed the statement for the Holy See which registered 250,182,364 euros in revenue, and expenses of 254,284,520 euros, with a deficit of 4,102,156 euros, in 2009.
The expenses were largely for to the ordinary and extraordinary expenses of the dicasteries and organisms of the Holy See whose specific activities contribute to the pastoral care exercised by the Supreme Pontiff over the universal Church.
These expenses included the entire communications system of the Holy See, particularly that of Vatican Radio.
The Vatican employs a total of 2,762 persons, of whom 766 are priests, 344 religious (261 men and 83 women), and 1,652 laymen (1,201 men and 451 women).
Mons. Di Paolis then presented the statement for the Governatorate which manages the territory of Vatican City State and its institutions and structures, in support of the Holy See.
Like other states, Vatican state continued to be affected by the international economic and financial crisis, closing 2009 with a total deficit of 7,815,183 euros. This represents an improvement of almost 7.5 million from the deficit incurred in 2008, much of it achieved by cost-cutting and substantial recovery from investment losses in 2008.
The activities of the Governatorate are independent of contributions from the Holy See or other institutions in that it provides for its own administrative costs from its direct revenues [mostly from the Vatican Museums and the Vatican Post Office].
The Governatorate employes 1,891 persons, including 38 male religious, 27 female religious,1,543 laymen and 283 laywomen.
In 2009, the Governatorate along with the Holy See, undertook a porject study for an integrated communications infrastructure system for telephone, Internet and video.
Continuing commitments from previous years, it has also provided for the protection and appreciation of the Vatican's artistic patrimony, particularly the Vatican Museums, where it has expanded the areas for exposition as well as museum hours.
Equally important is the economic and financial commitment for the protection, appreciation and restoration of the Holy See's artistic patrimony - including major restoration work of all the architectonic components of the Colonnade in St. Peter's Square; and restorations in the papal basilicas of San Giovanni in laterano, Santa Maria Maggiore and San Paolo fuori le Mura.
Just as relevant were the costs for security within Vatican City State and the major renovation of the Vatican Apostolic Library which will reopen in September after three years of work.
Mons. Di Paolis then presented the situation of the Holy See's pension funds, which has been paying benefits to 4,587 individuals as of 12/31/2009.
The above financial statements were all duly audited, verified and certified.
Separately presented was the activity regarding Peter's Pence, consisting of all the contributions made to the Holy Father by the local Churches around the world, culminating annually on the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul; by institutes of consecrated life and societies of apostolic life, by various foundations, and by individual Catholics.
The total in 2009 was $82,529,417 - an increase over the contributions made in 2008. The major contributions in 2009 came from the Catholics of the United States, Italy and France [Now, that's another surprise!], and, in relation to their Catholic population, from Korea and Japan.
In support of the central structure of the Church, the local bishops, attesting to their link of unity and charity with Rome, contributed, $31,516,029. The contribution from each diocese depends on what it can afford, and is made under Canon 1271 of the Code of Canon Law. The major contributions came from the United States, followed by Germany.
Not included in these statements is the 0.008 share of Italian tax revenues that goes annually to the Church in Italy - not to the Holy See - under the terms of the Lateran Pacts, to support the ecclesial and charitable activities of the local churches. [The Italian bishops' conference, which administers the fund, also uses part of it to help poor dioceses and charities around the world.]
Donations from other institutions includes the 50 million euros donated by IOR for the religious and charitable activities of the Holy Father.
At the end of the three-day meeting, the Council members expressed their gratitude to all those who, often anonymously and generously, sustain the apostolic and charitable ministry of the Holy Father in the service of the universal Church.
[Modificato da TERESA BENEDETTA 12/07/2010 21:32]