Transparent Finances for the Holy See

Transparent Finances for the Holy See

Pope Benedict XVI

Benedict XVI issues norms against money-laundering and the financing of terrorism

See also Communiqué of the Secretariat of State

With his 'Apostolic Letter in the form of a 'Motu Proprio' for the prevention and countering of illegal activities in the area of monetary and financial dealings", dated 30 December [2010], Benedict XVI has approved the promulgation of a law for Vatican City State which establishes norms to be applied to the Dicasteries of the Roman Curia and to all the institutions dependent on the Holy See. At the same time, the Pope has established the Autorità di Informazione Finanziaria (AID) to ensure the regular application of the new legislation. Texts of the AID Statutes and of the law concerning money-laundering and the financing of terrorism were published with the "Motu Proprio". They will come into force on 1 April 2011. Three other laws were promulgated on the same date. Their principal aim is to reinforce measures against fraud and the forgery of Euro coins and banknotes (bills). Not only do the new norms — that will implement the Monetary Convention between the Vatican and the EU stipulated on 17 December 2009 — respond to technical and juridical purposes but also and especially to that ethos of "transparency, honesty and responsibility", reaffirmed in "Caritas in Veritate" with reference to the economy, whose "improper use" today constitutes a threat to "a just and lasting peace in every part of the world". The Secretariat of State issued a Communiqué in various languages, including English, published below also on December 30. The following is a translation of the Italian text of Benedict XVI's "Motu Proprio".

The Apostolic See has always raised its voice to urge all people of good will, and especially the leaders of nations, to commit themselves through a just and lasting peace in every part of the world to the building of the universal city of God which is the goal of the history of the community of peoples and of nations [Benedict XVI, Encyclical Letter Caritas in Veritate, (29 June 2009), n. 7].

Unfortunately in our time, in an ever more globalized society, peace is threatened by various causes, including the improper use of the market and of the economy, and the dreadful and destructive violence that terrorism perpetrates, causing death, suffering, hatred and social instability.

Most appropriately the international community is increasingly equipping itself with the juridical principles and instruments that enable it to prevent and to counter the phenomena of laundering of money and the financing of terrorism.

The Holy See approves this commitment and intends to adopt these laws as its own in the utilization of the material resources that serve to carry out the mission and duties of Vatican City State.

In this framework and in implementation of the Monetary Convention between Vatican City State and the European Union of 17 December 2009, for the said State I have approved:

the promulgation of the Law concerning the prevention and countering of the laundering of proceeds from criminal activities and of the financing of terrorism of 30 December 2010, which comes into force today.

With this Apostolic Letter in the form of a "Motu Proprio":

a) I establish that the above-mentioned Law of Vatican City State and its future modifications apply as well to the Dicasteries of the Roman Curia and for each and every dependent institution or entity in which they carry out their activities, in accordance with Art. 2 of the same Law;

b) I establish the Autorità di Informazione Finanziaria (AIF) indicated in Art. 33 of the Law concerning the prevention and countering of the proceeds from criminal activities and of the financing of terrorism, as an Institution connected with the Holy See in accordance with Articles 186 and 190-191 of the Apostolic Constitution Pastor Bonus, conferring upon it a public canonical juridical personality and a Vatican civil personality and approving its Statutes, which are attached to this "Motu Proprio";

c) I establish that the Autorità di Informazione Finanziaria (AIF) exercise its duties with respect to the Dicasteries of the Roman Curia andof all the entities and institutions as specified in paragraph a).

d) I delegate, in the case of the crimes specified by the above-mentioned Law, the competent judicial Authorities of Vatican City State to exercise penal jurisdiction in regard to the institutions mentioned in paragraph a),

I stipulate that what has been established have full and permanent value from this day forth, anything to the contrary notwithstanding, although it may deserve special mention.

I establish that this Apostolic Letter in the form of a "Motu Proprio" be published in the Acta Apostolicae Sedis.

Given in Rome, at the Apostolic Palace, on 30 December in the Year 2010, the sixth of the Pontificate.

Taken from:
L'Osservatore Romano
Weekly Edition in English
5 January 2011, page 4

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