Vatican: Billion-Euro Shortfall? Cardinal Rejects Reports
'I cannot confirm that. The situation is not as catastrophic as some people make it out to be,' he said.
At the press conference following the election of Pope Leo XIV, Cardinal Marx also commented on the finances of the Holy See, emphasising that the Church was facing challenges but there was no need to fear a financial crisis.
He made a distinction between the finances of the Vatican State and those of the Holy See, explaining that the former were 'in good shape, with surpluses'.
However, the Holy See's situation is more difficult, as it is burdened primarily by high administrative and pension costs.
Cardinal Marx is only responsible for the financial situation of the Holy See.
He does not consider a short-term solution involving the sale of real estate to be sustainable. It is crucial that the Vatican State and the Vatican Bank (IOR) reliably transfer their profits to the Holy See.
The sovereign Vatican City State receives its revenues from the Vatican Museums, stamps, coins and other services. It incurs expenses relating to infrastructure, staff and maintenance. Its finances are managed by the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See (APSA) and the Vatican Bank.
The Holy See, the global authority of the Catholic Church, has revenues from Peter's Pence, donations and investments. It has expenses relating to the Roman Curia, diplomacy and the media. Its finances are managed by the Secretariat for the Economy, APSA and the Vatican Bank, each with their own budget.
At the same time, Marx expressed his hope for the introduction of a “diaconate of women”. For him, this is one of 'the central questions of the future' — rather than the fact that the Church is collapsing in many countries, including Germany.
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