VATICAN CITY, 4 JUL 2009 (VIS) – The 63rd
meeting of the Council of Cardinals for the Study of
Organisational and
Economic Problems of the Holy See was held in the Vatican from 1
to 3
July, under the presidency of Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio
Bertone
S.D.B.
A
communique published this afternoon explains that the Holy See
consolidated financial statements for 2008, presented to the
cardinals
during the meeting by Archbishop Velasio De Paolis C.S., president
of the
Prefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See, show a
deficit of
911,514 euro, the difference between an income of 253,953,869 euro
and
outgoings of 254,865,383 euro.
The outgoings are due above all to the ordinary and
extraordinary
expenses of the dicasteries and offices of the Holy See, which
employ
2,732 people of whom 761 are ecclesiastics, 334 religious and
1,637 lay
people.
The meeting also examined the consolidated financial
statements of
the Governorate of Vatican City State for 2008, which show a
deficit of
slightly more than 15 million euro. A total of 1,894 people work
under the
jurisdiction of the Governorate.
The communique explains how, during the period in question,
the
Governorate began to study an integrated communications
infrastructure
including telephone and internet services, and installed
photoelectric
panels on the roof of the Paul VI Hall. It also mentions the
“notable
economic and financial burden of protecting, evaluating and
restoring the
artistic heritage of the Holy See (restoration of the Pauline
Chapel and
work on the papal basilicas of St. Paul’s Outside-the-Walls and
St. Mary
Major)”.
Finally the consolidated financial statements of Peter’s
Pence were
also presented. This fund consists of offers made to the Holy
Father by
the particular Churches, especially for the Solemnity of Sts.
Peter and
Paul, and contributions by institutes of consecrated life,
societies of
apostolic life, foundations and various members of the faithful.
In
2008
a total of 54,387,714 euro was raised and, although
the number of donations went up, the total fell slightly due to
the
general economic situation.OP/FINANCES HOLY SEE/DE PAOLIS
VIS 090706
(350)
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