General Secretary participates in a workshop on transparency and responsibility in the Catholic Church
The financial reform has brought great changes
“The financial reform that Pope Benedict began and that Pope Francis continued with dedication has brought great changes to the structures and procedures of the Holy See and Vatican City State”, said Sister Raffaella Petrini, Franciscan Sister of the Eucharist and General Secretary of Vatican City State, in her address to participants in a workshop on “Transparency and Accountability in the Catholic Church: A Practical Journey”. The meeting was held on Wednesday morning, 19 June, in the Old Synod Hall in the Vatican.
During her address, the General Secretary stressed that, “even though we are already gathering the first fruits of these efforts, it is a journey that demands patience, perseverance and continuous commitment to consolidate a renewed sense of trust within and beyond our Catholic Church”.
Giuseppe Schlitzer, Director of the Supervisory and Financial Information Authority (ASIF) and Monsignor Martin Schlag, Professor at the University of Saint Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota and Director of the John A. Ryan Institute, also addressed participants in the workshop.
The meeting was part of a formation course on financial transparency and church management, held in Rome from 17-21 June. The Vatican stage was organized in cooperation with the Supervisory and Financial Information Authority (ASIF) and held at the Markets, Culture and Ethics research centre of the Pontifical Holy Cross University. It was promoted in cooperation with the John A. Ryan Institute, the University of Saint Thomas in Minnesota and St. Mary University in Twickenham, London.
The goal was to empower Catholic Church leaders by providing them with practical tools to foster transparency within their organizations or areas of interest. Among the topics for discussion were how to implement transparency, by analyzing ethical, financial, accounting, cultural and communication aspects that apply, and by providing tools and strategies needed to promote a culture of transparency with a wide range practical approach.
Also present were Cardinal Peter Ebere Okpaleke, Bishop of Ekwulobia, Nigeria, seven Archbishops, 11 Bishops and some 20 priests and religious from Africa, Asia and Europe.
The Supervisory and Financial Information Authority (ASIF) is an institution of the Holy See and Vatican City State for supervision (security and regulation) against money laundering and terrorism financing, as well as security and regulation in prudential matters of the bodies that carry out professional financial activities.