VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE   
   YEAR XXII - # 126   
   DATE 09-07-2014   
      
   Summary:   
   - MOTU PROPRIO ON THE TRANSFER OF COMPETENCES TO THE SECRETARIAT FOR THE   
   ECONOMY   
   - NEW ECONOMIC FRAMEWORK FOR THE HOLY SEE   
   - DECREES OF THE CONGREGATION FOR THE CAUSES OF SAINTS   
   - AUDIENCES   
   - OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
    MOTU PROPRIO ON THE TRANSFER OF COMPETENCES TO THE SECRETARIAT FOR THE ECONOMY   
    Vatican City, 9 July 2014 (VIS) - The following is the Apostolic Letter   
   issued 'Motu proprio' by the Holy Father Francis on the transfer of the   
   Ordinary Section of the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See   
   to the Secretariat of the Economy.   
    "Confirming a centuries-old tradition, the last Vatican Council II reaffirmed   
   the need for the organisation of the Holy See to conform to the needs of the   
   times, above all by adapting the structure of the dicasteries of the Roman   
   Curia, their number, denomination and competence, as well as their approaches   
   and mutual coordination, to the real needs of the Church at every moment.   
    A concrete result of these principles occurred with the promulgation in   
   February 2014 of the Apostolic letter, in the form of a Motu Proprio, Fidelis   
   Dispensator et Prudens, by which I instituted the Secretariat for the Economy   
   as a dicastery of the Roman Curia. In accordance with the recommendations of   
   the Council for the Economy, the Secretariat is responsible for the economic   
   control and supervision of the dicasteries of the Roman Curia, the   
   Institutions linked to the Holy See, and the administrations of Vatican City   
   State.   
    In view of the above, and upon consulting the heads of the dicasteries   
   involved, I consider it appropriate for the Secretariat of the Economy to   
   assume among its institutional competences, from now on and in accordance with   
   the methods and times established by the relative Cardinal Prefect, those   
   tasks which were previously attributed to the so-called 'Ordinary Section' of   
   the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See and, therefore, to   
   transfer to the aforementioned dicastery the competences which the Apostolic   
   Constitution 'Pastor bonus' of 28 June 1988 had entrusted to that Section of   
   the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See. As a consequence,   
   the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See will no longer be   
   divided into sections and, in the future, it will carry out only those   
   functions previously performed by the Extraordinary Section.   
    Consequently, having carefully examined every question regarding the matter   
   and consulting with the competent dicasteries and experts, I establish and   
   decree as follows: Article 1   
    The text of Article 172 of the Apostolic Constitution 'Pastor bonus' is   
   entirely substituted by the following text:   
    1. This Office shall administer the assets belonging to the Holy See   
   allocated to provide the funds necessary for the performance of the functions   
   of the Roman Curia.   
    2. The Office shall also administer the moveable assets entrusted to other   
   bodies of the Holy See. Article 2   
    The text of Article 173 of the Apostolic Constitution 'Pastor bonus' is   
   entirely substituted by the following text:   
    The office shall be presided over by a Cardinal, assisted by a determined   
   number of Cardinals and a Prelate Secretary.   
    Article 3   
    Articles 174 and 175 of the Apostolic Constitution 'Pastor bonus' are hereby   
   repealed.   
    Article 4   
    The Prefect of the Secretariat of the Economy shall constitute a technical   
   Commission with the aim of facilitating the transfer of the competences hereto   
   attributed to the Ordinary Section of the Administration of the Patrimony of   
   the Holy See and shall determine, starting from today's date, the methods for   
   resolving pending issues relating to the aforementioned Ordinary Section, up   
   to the complete and effective transfer of competences.   
    I decree that the measures decided in this Apostolic Letter issued Motu   
   Proprio be observed in their entirety, notwithstanding any provisions to the   
   contrary, even when worthy of special mention, and that it be published in the   
   daily newspaper 'L'Osservatore Romano', entering into force on the day of its   
   promulgation."   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
    NEW ECONOMIC FRAMEWORK FOR THE HOLY SEE   
    Vatican City, 9 July 2014 (VIS) - This morning in the Holy See Press Office a   
   press conference was held to present the new economic plan for the Holy See.   
   The speakers were Cardinal George Pell, prefect of the Secretariat for the   
   Economy, Joseph F. X. Zahra and Jean-Baptiste de Franssu, deputy coordinator   
   and member of the Council for the Economy respectively, and Ernst von   
   Freyberg, president of the Board of Superintendence of the Institute for the   
   Works of Religion (IOR).   
    Cardinal George Pell announced new and important initiatives for improving   
   the economic management and administration of the Holy See and Vatican City   
   State. These changes, set in motion by the new Secretariat for the Economy,   
   are the fruit of a detailed analysis of the conclusions and recommendations of   
   the Pontifical Council for on the Organisation of the - of the Holy See   
   (COSEA), and are considered essential to face risks and weaknesses and, at the   
   same time, to create in the future a new platform for improving economic   
   management. All the changes were approved in the recent meetings of the   
   Council for the Economy (5 July) and the Council of Cardinals (1-4 July), and   
   it is expected that they will be approved by the Holy Father.   
    The changes relate to APSA (the Administration of the Patrimony of the   
   Apostolic See), the Pension Fund, the Vatican media and the Institute for the   
   Works of Religion (IOR).   
    The Prefect of the Secretariat of the Economy expressed his satisfaction with   
   the fact that the Holy Father has approved these important initiatives. Both   
   Cardinal Pell and the Council for the Economy gave thanks for the Pope's   
   unwavering support and contributions.   
    "There are many challenges to face and much work to be done", Cardinal Pell   
   observed. "The COSEA has recommended that various issues be faced as a matter   
   of urgency, such as the transfer of the Ordinary Section of the APSA, the   
   Pension Fund, the media and the IOR. The Holy Father has clearly stated that   
   these changes must be made rapidly".   
    The Cardinal went on to announce the creation of a small Project Management   
   Office (PMO), directed by Danny Casey, former business manager of the   
   archdiocese of Sydney, to implement and present some of the proposed changes,   
   beginning with the transfer of the Ordinary Section of the APSA to the   
   Secretariat for the Economy. The PMO will report directly to the Prefect of   
   the Secretariat for the Economy.   
    In September 2014, the Secretariat for the Economy will begin to prepare the   
   budget for the year 2015. The aim is for all dicasteries and administrations   
   to draw up a budget to which they will adhere throughout the year. Spending   
   (within the agreed structure) will be the responsibility of each dicastery and   
   administration. It will then be compared with the budget in progress during   
   2015, and the dicastery in question will be accountable for any eventual   
   excess spending.   
    "We are keen to pursue this work in the coming months", Cardinal Pell   
   concluded.   
    The following are extracts from the proposals for change in the various   
   sectors, starting with the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic   
   See:   
    The Ordinary Section of APSA is transferred to the Secretariat for the   
   Economy. This is an important step to enable the Secretariat for the Economy   
   to exercise its responsibilities of economic control and vigilance over the   
   agencies of the Holy See, including policies and procedures concerning   
   purchasing and the suitable allocation of human resources as defined in the   
   Motu Proprio Fidelis Dispensator et Prudens.   
    The remaining staff of APSA will begin to focus exclusively on its role as a   
   Treasury for the Holy See and the Vatican City State. A key early task will be   
   continuing the work of establishing close relationships with all major Central   
   banks as recommended by MoneyVal, which will continue to ensure the liquidity   
   and financial stability of the Holy See. All sovereign institutions will have   
   an account at APSA which will serve as a Treasury for them.   
    With regard to the Pension Fund, the Council for the Economy has appointed a   
   technical committee to study its current situation and to make proposals to   
   the Council for the Economy before the end of the year. The Council recognised   
   and acknowledged that the pensions being paid today and for the next   
   generation are safe but the fund needs to ensure there are sufficient funds   
   for future generations in a changing environment. Many Western countries have   
   faced challenges in their pension system over the last years. It is   
   anticipated that new statutes would be prepared by the end of 2014 to adapt   
   the Pension Fund's organisation to the new economic-administrative structure   
   of the Holy See.   
      
   --- MPost/386 v1.21   
    * Origin: Sursum Corda! BBS=Huntsville AL=bbs.sursum-corda.com (1:396/45)