To prevent and counter money laundering

Today the Holy Father, Pope Francis has issued a Motu Proprio for the prevention and countering of money laundering, the financing of terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

Pursuant to the steps already taken by Pope Benedict XVI in this area with the Motu Proprio of 30 December 2010 for preventing and countering illegal activities in the areas of finance and currency, today’s Motu Proprio reaffirms the Holy See’s commitment to the goal of preventing and countering money laundering, the financing of terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

In particular, the present Motu Proprio:

• broadens the application of the relevant Vatican laws to the Dicasteries of the Roman Curia and to other institutes and entities dependent on the Holy See, as well as to non-profit organizations enjoying juridical personality in canon law and based in the Vatican City State;
• strengthens the supervisory and regulatory function of the Financial Information Authority;
• establishes the function of prudential supervision over entities habitually engaged in financial activities, in response to a recommendation of the MONEYVAL Committee of the Council of Europe, and assigns that function to the Financial Information Authority; and
• establishes the Financial Security Committee, whose Statutes are appended to the Motu Proprio, for the purpose of coordinating the competent authorities of the Holy See and the Vatican City State in the area of prevention and countering of money laundering, the financing of terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

 

Apostolic Letter in the form of Motu Proprio

Issued by His Holiness, Pope Francis

For the prevention and countering of money laundering, the financing of terrorism, and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction

The promotion of integral human development at material and moral levels requires a profound reflection on the vocation of the economic and financial sectors and on their relevance to the ultimate goal of achieving the common good.

For this reason, the Holy See, in accordance with its nature and mission, participates in the efforts of the international community toward the protection and promotion of the integrity, stability and transparency of the economic and financial sectors and the prevention and countering of criminal activity.

Continuing the actions already undertaken in this domain according to the Motu Proprio issued on December 30, 2010 for the prevention and the countering of illegal activity in financial and monetary matters, issued by my predecessor Benedict XVI, I wish to renew  the commitment of the Holy See to adopt the principles and the juridical instruments developed by the International community, further adjusting the institutional framework in order to prevent and to counter money laundering, financing of terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

With the present Apostolic Letter in the form of Motu Proprio, I adopt the following provisions:

Article 1

The Dicasteries of the Roman Curia and the other organisms and entities dependent on the Holy See,  as well as non-profit organizations enjoying juridical personality and canonical statute in the Vatican City State are required to observe the laws of the Vatican City State in matters pertaining to:

a)      Measures for the prevention and countering of money laundering and the financing of terrorism;

b)      Measures against those who threaten peace and international security;

c)       Prudent supervision of institutions carrying out professional activities of a financial nature.

Article 2

The Financial Information Authority will carry out the function of prudent supervision of institutions performing professional activity of a financial nature.

Article 3

The competent juridical offices of the Vatican City State will have jurisdiction in the above-mentioned matters, and over Dicasteries and other organisms and entities dependent on the Holy See, as well as over non-profit organizations enjoying legal and canonical office within the Vatican City State.

Article 4

I establish the Financial Security Committee with the purpose of coordinating the competent authorities of the Holy See and the Vatican City State in all matters pertaining to the prevention and countering of money laundering, the financing of terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.  This Committee will be governed by the Statues attached to this Apostolic Letter.

I decree that the present Apostolic Letter issued Motu Proprio be promulgated by publication in l’Osservatore Romano.

I direct that the provisions herein may have full and lasting value, even by repealing all provisions incompatible with them effective August 10, 2013.

Given at Rome, from the Apostolic Palace, on August 8, 2013, the first of my Pontificate.

Francis, Pope