"In economic matters, the Church must set a good example.". On more than one occasion, Pope Francis has explained why one of the priority aspects of the reform of the organization of the Roman Curia concerns the correct management of the economic and financial patrimony of the Holy See, especially in these times characterized by a severe financial crisis and evident moral degradation. To neglect this would affect people's trust and would hinder the very mission of the Church, which cannot do without economic resources in order to proclaim the Gospel. "to the ends of the earth".
It is no coincidence that one of the first commissions set up a few months after Francis' election was precisely the one charged with analyzing the economic-administrative structure of the Holy See, known in Italian by the acronym COSEA. Composed almost entirely of lay people and experts from various countries, it has had the task - drawing also on external consultancies - of studying in depth the Vatican's economic departments and making proposals for the rationalization of their activity.
From this commission were born a Secretariat for the Economy, today headed by Cardinal George Pell, and a Council for the Economy, entrusted to Cardinal Reinhard Marx. One of the most evident "reforms" resulting from the creation of these two bodies is, for example, the preparation by each of the administrative bodies of the Holy See of an annual budget and an annual financial statement, mechanisms that were not previously obligatory or at least, in most cases, were not foreseen. At the same time, the reorganization of the management system of the Holy See has also been consolidated. Institute for the Works of Religion (IOR), among other things in order to obtain the recognition of international organizations regarding the reliability of the Institute itself in the financial field.
In recent weeks, further pieces have been added. The Council of nine cardinals (C-9) that is assisting the Holy Father in the reform process, at its planned quarterly meeting in early December, has given its blessing, among other issues - such as the possibility of applying the principle of synodality and a "healthy decentralization", Pope Francis spoke of when celebrating the 50th anniversary of the institution of the Synod of Bishops in October; the creation of the new dicastery for the laity, the family and life, and the one that will deal with justice, peace and migrations - to the constitution of a new working group in charge of carrying out "a reflection on the future prospects of the economy of the Holy See and the Vatican City State"..
Cardinal Pell, in his capacity as Prefect of the Secretariat for the Economy, illustrated its characteristics, explaining that this new body should in a certain sense oversee "the overall progress and control of outputs and inputs". Together with the Secretariat for the Economy, it is made up of representatives of the Secretariat of State, the GovernatoratoThe Congregation of the Apostolic See, the APSA (Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See), the Congregation of Propaganda Fide - which has an autonomous management and takes care of all the mission lands -, the Secretariat for Communication and the IOR.
In the same hours, Pope Francis has also given a mandate to the Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, to institute the Pontifical Commission for the activities of the health sector of the public juridical persons of the ChurchIt has broad powers of intervention over hospitals, clinics and sanatoriums owned by the Holy See, dioceses and religious orders and congregations. The decision to institute this agency is a response to the "particular difficulties" the so-called Catholic health care system, on which the Pope has "gathered the appropriate information". In this case, too, but not only, there are economic reasons, linked to an "efficient management of the activities and conservation of the assets, maintaining and promoting the charism of the founders".. Its members will include six experts in the fields of health, real estate, management, economics, administration and finance. This intervention has become necessary both to resolve current crisis situations and to prevent them in the future. Always in the order of that "good example" that the Church and all its institutions are called to give.
