A new Pontifical Commission

On Thursday of this week, Pope Francis signed a chirograph establishing and 8-member Commission which will continue the oversight and reform of Vatican financial practices   This commission is the latest step in a series of moves designed to increase the transparency of the Vatican's economic organization.

In a note issued yesterday, the Vatican Secretariat of State explained that the Commission will gather information, report to the Holy Father and cooperate with the Council of Cardinals for the study of the organizational and economic problems of the Holy See, in order to draft reforms of the institutions of the Holy See, with the aim of simplification and rationalization of the existing bodies and more careful planning of the economic activities of all the Vatican Administrations.

The eight members of the Commission are lay people, with the exception of the Secretary of the Commission.  They are an international group, bringing expertise in law, economics and finances.

Communiqué from the Vatican Secretariat of State

concerning the

Chirograph of the Holy Father, Pope Francis

for the establishment of a Pontifical Commission

for reference on the Economic-Administrative structure of the Holy See

The Holy Father, by a chirograph dated 18 July, has established a Pontifical Commission for Reference on the Organisation of the economic-administrative structure of the Holy See.

The Commission will gather information, report to the Holy Father and co-operate with the Council of Cardinals for the study of the organizational and economic problems of the Holy See, in order to draft reforms of the institutions of the Holy See, with the aim of a simplification and rationalization of the existing bodies and more careful planning of the economic activities of all the Vatican Administrations.

As explained in the chirograph, the Committee will offer the technical support of specialist advice and develop strategic solutions for improvement, so as to avoid the misuse of economic resources, to improve transparency in the processes of purchasing goods and services; to refine the administration of goods and real estate; to work with ever greater prudence in the financial sphere; to ensure correct application of accounting principles; and to guarantee healthcare and social security benefits to all those eligible.

The Commission will be able to collaborate, on request, with the working Group of eight Cardinals in drafting a plan for the reform of the Apostolic Constitution Pastor Bonus on the Roman Curia.

The aims and the appointments of the Commission are described in detail in the chirograph itself.

The members of the Commission are laypeople, experts in legal, economic, financial and organisational matters, currently eminent consultants or reviewers for the Vatican or for other ecclesiastical economic institutions. The only member of the clergy is the Secretary.

The eight members are:

• Dr. Joseph FX Zahra (Malta), President
• Msgr. Lucio Angel Vallejo Balda (Secretary of the Prefecture for Economic Affairs), Secretary
• Mr Jean-Baptiste de Franssu (France)
• Dr. Enrique Llano (Spain)
• Dr. Jochen Messemer (Germany)
• Ms. Francesca Immacolata Chaouqui (Italy)
• Mr. Jean Videlain-Sevestre (France)
• Mr. George Yeo (Singapore)

Dr. Zahra and Dr. Messemer are International reviewers of the Prefecture of Economic Affairs of the Holy See.

The Commission will begin its work as soon as possible. A first meeting is scheduled for shortly after the Holy Father’s return from Brazil.

The Holy Father hopes for a happy and productive collaboration between the Commission and the Vatican Administrations associated with its work.