(ZENIT News / City, 20.09.2024).- Published on Friday, September 20, was a letter of Pope Francis to the Cardinals of the Catholic Church. The letter addressed the issue of the Holy See’s economic reform, a topic that, as the Holy Father states, was discussed in the General Congregations prior to the Conclave, in which he was elected.
Here is an English translation of the letter.
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Dear Brothers,
Ten years ago we began the reform of the Roman Curia and, through the Apostolic Constitution Predicate Evangelium, we established the new organization of the Holy See, specifying its guiding principles and its ends. “Ecclesia semper reformanda” has been the spirit that has animated the reform, so that the Roman Curia can assist the Successor of Peter in the exercise of his supreme pastoral office, for the good and service of the universal Church and of the particular Churches.
If this updating represents a testimony of vitality and grace, we know the dedication and work of women and men determined to adapt themselves to this movement of renewal. It has corresponded to you, Brother Cardinals, in your function to assist the Roman Pontiff in the government of the universal Church, to accompany all those implicated in this process of transformation.
Despite the difficulties and, at times, that temptation to immobility and rigidity in face of the change, much has been achieved in these years. I thank you for the help you have given and continue to give. With these premises, I would now like to address in a special way, once again, one of the topics that has most characterized the General Congregations prior to the Conclave: the economic reform of the Holy See. The years that have passed have demonstrated the clairvoyance of the requests for reform driven in the past by so many members of the College of Cardinals, which has led to greater awareness of the fact that the economic resources at the service of the mission are limited and must be managed with rigor and seriousness, so that the efforts of those who have contributed to the patrimony of the Holy See are not wasted.
For these reasons, all must now make an additional effort so that a “zero deficit” is not only a theoretic objective, but a truly attainable goal. The reform has set the basis for the implementation of ethical policies that improve the economic performance of the existing assets. Joined to this in the need of each institution to make an effort to find external resources for the mission, giving example of transparent and responsible management at the service of the Church.
On the side of the reduction of costs, we need to give a concrete example so that our service is carried out with a spirit of the essential, avoiding the superfluous and selecting our priorities well, fostering mutual collaboration and synergies. We must be conscious that today we face the need to take strategic decisions with great responsibility, because we are called to guarantee the future of the Mission.
The Institutions of the Holy See have much to learn from the solidarity of good families. Just as in those families, those that enjoy a good economic situation go to the aid of the neediest members, the Institutions with a surplus must help to cover the general deficit. This means to be concerned about the good of our community, acting with generosity, in the evangelical sense of the term, as prior requirement to ask for generosity also from outside.
In conclusion, I ask you to receive this message with courage and a spirit of service, and that you support the reforms underway with conviction, loyalty and generosity, contributing your knowledge and experience to the process of reform. Each of the Institutions of the Holy See forms one body with all the others: hence, genuine collaboration and cooperation towards the sole end, the good of the Church, is an essential exigency of our service.
With this spirit and this awareness, I ask you to accompany our work with fidelity and trust.
Vatican, September 16, 2024
FRANCIS
Translation of the Italian original into Spanish by ZENIT’s Editorial Director and, into English, by Virginia M. Forrester
