* Original message posted in: VATICAN.   
   * Crossposted in: IN_CATHOLIC.   
      
   Hello all.   
      
   VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE   
      
   TWENTIETH YEAR - N. 165   
   ENGLISH   
   THURSDAY, 23 SEPTEMBER 2010   
      
   SUMMARY:   
      
   - Letter from Holy See Press Office Director Concerning IOR   
   - Audiences   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
   LETTER FROM HOLY SEE PRESS OFFICE DIRECTOR CONCERNING IOR   
      
   VATICAN CITY, 23 SEP 2010 (VIS) - Given below is the text of a letter   
   written by Holy See Press Office Director Fr. Federico Lombardi S.J. The   
   letter concerns recent events involving the Institute for the Works of   
   Religion (IOR) and appeared in today's edition of the British newspaper,   
   Financial Times.   
      
     "Yesterday the IOR (Institute of Religious Works) returned to   
   international media attention in the wake of a surprise investigation by    
   the   
   Procurator's Office in Rome.   
      
     "Given that the activities of the IOR take place at an international   
   level, and that its President is a well respected figure, well-known in    
   the   
   world of international finance, it is appropriate that I, as the head of    
   the   
   Holy See's Press Office, should seek to clarify matters in order to    
   avoid   
   the spread of inaccurate information and to ensure that no damage is    
   caused   
   to the activities of the Institute or the good name of its managers.   
      
     "The IOR is not a bank in the normal definition of the term. It is an   
   Institute that administers the assets of Catholic institutions;    
   institutions   
   whose goal is to further a religious and charitable apostolate at an   
   international level. The IOR is located within the territory of Vatican    
   City   
   State; in other words, beyond the jurisdiction and surveillance of the   
   various national banks.   
      
     "Its particular status means that its position in the system and the   
   regulations of international finance requires a series of agreements in   
   order to establish the procedures necessary for the Holy See to be    
   included   
   in the White List - this is especially true in light of the new norms    
   laid   
   down by the European Union to combat terrorism and money laundering.   
      
     "From the day of his appointment, and in accordance with the specific   
   mandate he received from the highest Vatican authorities and from the    
   IOR   
   Inspection Committee, President Gotti Tedeschi has been working with    
   great   
   commitment to ensure the absolute transparency of the IOR's activities,    
   and   
   their compliance for the norms and procedures which will allow the Holy    
   See   
   to be included in the White List. To this end, intense and fruitful    
   contacts   
   are ongoing with the Bank of Italy, the European Union and with the   
   competent international bodies: OECD and GAFI.   
      
     "It is for this reason that the Vatican Secretariat of State, in the   
   official communiquE9 it released on Tuesday, expressed its perplexity    
   and   
   amazement at this investigation by the Procurator's Office in Rome,    
   which   
   has come at a time in which this commitment is being clearly shown and    
   these   
   contacts are being made in order to reach lasting solutions as soon as   
   possible.   
      
     "The nature and aims of the transactions under investigation could    
   have   
   been clarified with great simplicity, being cash transactions the   
   beneficiary of which is the Institute itself, on accounts it holds at    
   other   
   credit institutions. The current problem was caused by a    
   misunderstanding   
   (now being examined) between the IOR and the bank which received the   
   transfer order.   
      
     "Thus the Holy See reiterates its complete confidence in the managers    
   of   
   the IOR, and its desire for complete transparency in the financial   
   operations the Institute undertakes, in accordance with the procedures    
   and   
   norms required today to ensure the security and transparency of    
   transactions   
   in the field of international finance".   
   .../                                                                    VIS   
   20100923 (550)   
      
   AUDIENCES   
      
   VATICAN CITY, 23 SEP 2010 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in    
   separate   
   audiences:   
      
    - Stefan Mappus, minister-president of Baden-Wurttemburg, Germany,   
   accompanied by an entourage.   
      
    - Bishop Konrad Zdarsa of Augsburg, Germany.   
      
    - Six prelates from the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil, on    
   their   
   "ad limi   
   na" visit:   
      
       - Archbishop Alano Maria Pena O.P. of Niteroi, accompanied by    
   Auxiliary   
   Bishop Roberto Francisco Ferreria Paz.   
      
       - Bishop Roberto Gomes Guimaraes of Campos.   
      
       - Bishop Edney Gouvea Mattoso of Nova Friburgo, accompanied by    
   Bishop   
   emeritus Rafael Llano Cifuentes.   
      
       - Bishop Filippo Santoro of Petropolis.   
   AP:AL/                                                          VIS 20100923   
   (100)   
      
   --- timEd/2 1.10.y2k+   
    * Origin: Sursum Corda! BBS-Meridian, MS-bbs.sursum-corda.com (1:396/45)