APSA Archives

Mob threat in Italy imperils the Church and the Vatican too

Jan 17, 2021

This week Italy opened the largest mob trial in history, with 325 defendants in the dock linked to the ‘Ndrangheta syndicate in the southern Italian region of Calabria.

By John L. Allen Jr.

Vatican financial reform going in the right direction, Pell says

Jan 15, 2021

Australian Cardinal George Pell, formerly the Vatican’s top official on financial affairs, said he believes the pope’s recent reforms signal progress, and called for additional competent laypeople to be involved in the process.

By Elise Ann Allen

New law brings needed transparency to finances, Vatican official says

Dec 29, 2020

A new law that removes financial assets from the control of the Vatican Secretariat of State is a step forward on the path of financial reform, said Bishop Nunzio Galantino, president of Administration of the Patrimony of the Holy See.

By Junno Arocho Esteves

With latest shakeup, has the music stopped on Vatican financial reform?

Dec 29, 2020

Pope Francis has taken away away the power of the purse from the Secretariat of State, traditionally the Vatican’s 800-pound gorilla, and transferred it to the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See (APSA), the Vatican’s central bank. At the same time, he beefed up the oversight role of the Secretariat for the Economy.

By John L. Allen Jr.

Facing scandal and debt, Pope shifts into high gear on financial reform

Jul 1, 2020

Despite the general stall related to the coronavirus over the last several months, it’s been drive time in terms of a financial reshuffle in the Vatican.

By John L. Allen Jr.

Lawyer for Argentine prelate in Vatican confident he’ll be cleared

Jun 16, 2020

A lawyer for Argentine Bishop Gustavo Zanchetta, appointed by Pope Francis to a Vatican post amid charges of sexual misconduct and financial mismanagement, told Crux that the Church process against Zanchetta is “almost over” and that he’s confident the bishop’s name will be “cleared.”

By Inés San Martín

Pope enacts new procurement law to combat deficits, corruption

Jun 1, 2020

Officials say the new rules, described as four years in the making, bring the Vatican in line with “the most advanced international legislation in the area,” including the UN’s 2003 Convention against Corruption. It’s also intended, according to a synthesis provided by the Vatican News Service, to “combat illicit deals and corruption,” as well to achieve significant cost savings though “economies of scale.”

By John L. Allen Jr.

Opening salvos in Pope Francis’s financial ‘Reform 2.0’

May 22, 2020

Pope Francis and his Vatican team this week have moved to try to defuse a financial bomb before it goes off, closing several Swiss holding companies responsible for portions of its assets and reallocating internal control over financial data collection.

By John L. Allen Jr.