The Vatican continues to put its accounts in order. Its budget is almost balanced in 2021, with a modest deficit of three million euros when it was expected to be 33 million. This result was called “positive” by the Prefect of the Secretariat for the Economy, the Spanish religious Juan Antonio Guerrero, Friday August 5th. However, it masks structural problems.
In effect, “the Holy See reduces its patrimony every year to cover the services of the Roman Curia”, his central government, added the prefect to the Vatican media. The Holy See sells for “20-25 million euros of assets on average each year” because “the Pope’s mission is not sufficiently funded”.
In 2021, the Vatican generated revenue of 1.1 billion euros, roughly flat on 2020. Lower donations were offset by lower spending and better management of real estate assets, according to accounts published on Friday.
“We are not looking for a surplus, but the continuity of the service of the Holy See”said Juan Antonio Guerreroin an interview with the Vatican News agency. “A deficit of three million euros for a budget of 1.1 billion, it’s not that much (…). But if we do a more detailed analysis, there are areas that need to be improved “,
After a series of cases, the Secretariat for the Economy has taken over the management of many assets which had been delegated until now, within the framework of the reform of the finances of the Holy See and to allow stricter control. The total of these assets now amounts to 3.9 billion euros. Father Guerrero, in office since 2019, is a great defender of the “transparency” accounts of the Church, one of the priorities of Pope Francis.
The smallest state in the world unveiled a new investment policy at the end of July “ethical” and “sustainable”, which provides in particular for the closure of its accounts abroad and the prohibition of investments in defence. The policy, which will come into effect on September 1, prohibits any investment in sectors related to armaments and defence, pornography, gambling, or those in health involved in abortion or the development of cells. embryonic strains.