Vatican City – Pope Leo XIV has moved swiftly to reorganize fundraising efforts for the Holy See, dissolving a commission established just ten months ago by Pope Francis [[2]]. The decision, formalized tuesday, December 4, follows a review by the Vatican’s economic council adn signals a continued emphasis on financial clarity and streamlining within the Catholic Church’s management. The move comes as the Vatican continues to navigate complex financial reforms aimed at long-term sustainability [[1]].
Pope Leo XIV has dissolved a commission established less than ten months ago by his predecessor, Pope Francis, to encourage donations to the Holy See. The move, announced Tuesday, December 4, comes after a review by the Vatican’s economic council and aims to streamline fundraising efforts. The decision reflects a broader effort to ensure financial prudence and transparency within the Catholic Church’s administration.
Salvatore Cernuzio – Vatican City
With a written decree, signed September 29 but released today, Pope Leo XIV has suppressed the Commissio de donationibus pro Sancta Sede, the body created to promote contributions from the faithful, Episcopal Conferences, and potential benefactors. Pope Francis originally established the Commission with a similar decree on February 11, 2025, during a period when he was hospitalized at the Gemelli Policlinic.
Read the full text of Pope Leo XIV’s decree here
The Commission, comprised of five members and led by Monsignor Roberto Campisi, who was recently appointed as the Holy See’s permanent observer to UNESCO, will cease operations immediately. Monsignor Campisi and the other members will relinquish their positions, according to the decree, which stems from “resolutions” and “recommendations” approved by the Council for the Economy under Article 207 of the Apostolic Constitution Praedicate Evangelium. This article concerns the protection of assets and the management of financial resources “with prudence, efficiency and transparency.”
The Commission’s Establishment
Table of Contents
The Commission was specifically tasked with “incentivizing donations through dedicated campaigns” targeting individuals, dioceses, and benefactors, as well as “seeking funding from willing donors for specific projects presented by the institutions of the Roman Curia and the Governorate of Vatican City State,” while respecting the autonomy and competencies of each entity under existing regulations.
The Pope’s Decision
Pope Leo XIV’s decree states that the issue of donations and fundraising for the Holy See “represents an important aspect of the vinculum unitatis et caritatis [bond of unity and charity] between the particular Churches and the Apostolic See, particularly from the point of view of the effective exercise of the Petrine ministry.”
“The Council for the Economy, which is responsible for overseeing the structures and administrative and financial activities of the Holy See, has given particular attention to the study of this issue, re-examining it and consulting experts in the field,” the document explains. Following this review, the Council “positively evaluated the initial steps recently taken” and formulated recommendations to “reshape the current institutional structure responsible for managing this area.”
Delegate for Assets is the President of APSA
After further consultations with “experts in the field,” Pope Leo XIV ordered the abolition of the Statute of the Commissio de donationibus pro Sancta Sede. Along with the Statute, “any acts adopted so far and Regulations eventually prepared by the Commissio” are also nullified and “will therefore have no canonical or legal force.” Furthermore, the decree stipulates that “all assets currently belonging to the Commissio must be transferred to the Holy See.” The President of the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See (APSA), Monsignor Giordano Piccinotti, is delegated to oversee the liquidation of the Commission, with the authority to subdelegate as necessary, according to existing regulations.
Working Group
The Secretariat for the Economy, along with a working group it will establish, will be responsible for “resolving any pending issues following the extinction of the Commissio.” The Secretariat for the Economy will “keep the Council for the Economy informed of all actions taken in this regard.” Finally, the Pope announced the creation of a working group to formulate “proposals regarding the general issue of fundraising for the Holy See, together with the definition of an appropriate structure.” The Council for the Economy will propose the members of this group to the Pope through the Secretariat of State.
