Deficit worries Francis: commission appointed to increase donations

Heavenly matters mix with earthly ones. While the Pope is in the hospital, people pray, talk about saints and consistories, but in these hours the Vatican has also formalized a very prosaic decision on money, and what a decision. The Commissio de donationibus pro Sancta Sede is born, a permanent commission dedicated to collecting donations and offerings. Fundraising , in short. The move is sensational, and is the logical consequence of the growing deficit that is being recorded in the Vatican. The Pope signed a chirograph on February 11, therefore before being hospitalized, which has now been published.

The reasons for a taboo

Until now, fundraising had remained almost a taboo in the Vatican. Donations, of course, have always been part of the life of the Church. Propaganda Fide has been able to set up missions for centuries thanks to donations and benefactors. But there has always been some reluctance about fundraising. To avoid being seen as an NGO, or worse still, a company. And because there is the risk of competing with dioceses, episcopal conferences, religious orders that already live off the generosity of the faithful throughout the world.

The five donor countries

But there is a problem. And it is the deficit, which beyond the bronze door has continued to increase over time. The reasons are various. Offerings have fallen, a long-term consequence of the decline in religious practice. The main countries contributing to the Vatican coffers are the United States, Italy, Spain, Germany and South Korea, but even in these countries the Church's income has decreased, dragging down transfers to the Vatican . In the USA, then, many dioceses have declared bankruptcy due to cases of abuse, German Catholics leave the Church in droves every year.

The London Palace

Peter's Pence, the offerings of even small amounts that ordinary believers send to Rome from all over the world, has fallen continuously since 2006, with a brief pause immediately after Francis' election. Contributions from large donors have also fallen. The scandal of the fraudulent sale of a building in central London has had an impact. The most conservative benefactors have been unhappy, especially overseas, with Pope Francis's openness.

Increasing deficit

The operating deficit for 2023 was just over 83 million euros, 1,152 million euros in operating revenues, 1,236 million in operating expenses. The previous year it had been 78 million, but the problem is long-term, the situation is predictably worsening. And so already in recent months the Pope has imposed cuts, slowed down new hiring, reformed the pension fund, asked the cardinals for a slimming diet , and enhanced the real estate assets.

For the salvation of souls

Now the Vatican is crossing a threshold that it had avoided until now. "Considering the current economic situation", the Pope has created this new commission that will have to "encourage donations with specific campaigns among the faithful, the Episcopal Conferences and other potential benefactors, underlining their importance for the Mission and for the charitable works of the Apostolic See, as well as finding funding from willing donors for specific projects" presented by the Roman Curia (the departments, libraries, foundations, nunciatures) and the Governorate, that is, the administration of the Papal State. Francis has appointed the six members for three years, ad experimentum : the president is Monsignor Roberto Campisi , a big shot in the Secretariat of State, there is Alessandra Smerilli , a nun and economist, Monsignor Flavio Pace , a representative of the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See and one — appointed only yesterday — from the Governorate. The goal is to increase revenue. Of course, for the salvation of souls.