The Vatican accounts: the two billion debt that Bergoglio has left Pope Leone XIV to Pope Leone

In 2013 Benedict XVI resigned from the role of vicar of Christ on earth but also by that of the head of a Vatican state in full financial storm (accused by Moneyval, the European Authority against economic crimes, of not doing enough against washing dirty money) a month after the decision of the Bank of Italy to block all the electronic payment systems of the pontifical state: not even an ATM remained active. In Conclave the US conservative cardinals supported the progressive Bergoglio hoping that the energetic and radical Jesuit from the Americas had the strength and determination to end the degenerations that the ascetic Ratzinger had not seen or had not been able to face. Francesco tried to restore, he imposed more transparency, but he left the work unfinished for the resistance of the Curia and also for some of his hesitations.

Budget holes

Meanwhile, alongside the financial holes, somehow arose, other disagreements have grown: Especially that of the Vatican Pensions Fund, a two billion euro chasm. The agenda of Leo XIValready full of theological commitments (the doctrinal disputes between progressives and traditionalists, the forward escapes of the German church), diplomats (the revision of relations with China) and appeals to peace, in a world shaken by a thousand conflicts, will still have, in beautiful evidence in the first pages, precisely the financial knots: essential for the future of the Church, even if they are kept in the shade because they are in the pastry values discussions between Catholics.

The accusations in Bergoglio

Supported by an American Church already used to following modern budget criteria in the management of its resources, Francesco had found himself paratrooped in a world of often allergic congregations to each accounting report: ideal territory of unscrupulous layoffs of secular financiers, attracted by the possibility of operating in an exempted state and without financial checks. Today there are those who accuse Bergoglio of having done little and of delivering to his successor a church on the verge of bankruptcy. In reality he tried to clean up by relying on the determination of George Pell, a real bulldozer, since his imposing physical appearance. But the Australian cardinal found a thousand obstacles in the Curia. Then came the accusations of pedophilia that blocked him for years, before reaching the acquittal with full formula.

The scandals of London

It is, however, it is true that when the secular experts called to put order they discovered that, 40 years old from the scandals of the Ior of Marcinkus and the financial raids of Calvi and Sindona, the Vatican had slipped back to the financial melma with operations such as that of the properties incorrectly purchased in London and asked him to hit high prelates, Francesco has hesitated. Only later will the Vatican processes come with the sentence of the Cardinal Becciu. In his autobiography Bergoglio identifies precisely in these financial events the main concern of his papacy.

The austerity of Francesco

And in front of the framework of the growing budget imbalances of a state that does not collect taxes but lives, as well as the revenue of the Vatican Museums, of a especially American and German charity, Francesco has sought solutions in his frugal mentality: a more modest church and cutting the salary of the cardinals. So he sowed bad mood and pushed the congregations to go and look for donations, sometimes not disinterested, without really affecting the deficit. In the end, a few days before his hospitalization to Gemelli and his disappearance, the Pope had recognized that in the shopping they are now inevitable « difficult decisions », painful, and had admitted the need to resort to donors more: often American conservatives who did not love him.

Vatican debt

There are those who say that debt is enormous consider the tiny dimensions of the Papal States. According to others it is paradoxical that an organization owner of A huge amount of invaluable works of art risks bankruptcy for a couple of billions (What they spent in London to build the new stadiums of Wembley and Tottenham): saving Michelangelo, Caravaggio and Leonardo, would be enough to sell some works piled up in the Vatican basements. A humiliating road that the Church does not want to travel. Thus, the donors remain. Those with the most capacious pockets are the American conservatives of the Papal Foundation and other philanthropic organizations merged to Rome in the days of the « vacant venue » for the annual meeting of the Fund Raiser called « America Week ». According to the London Times, the donors of the Papal Foundation promised to double the bottom of this year up to 30 million dollars and to collect another 750 million in the future, « as long as the right Pope is chosen ».

American donations

The conclave has not been influenced: Prevost will not be the flaming sword of the conservatives. But, as a pragmatic American with experience of managing complex organizations (the Augustinians) should know where to get their hands. And it should be able to keep up with a Curia who knows well for the positions he has had in the Vatican, but of which it is not part. While American donors who asked for more transparency, as well as less theological escapes forward, should feel comfortable with Leo XIV.