When Pope Francis was elected three years ago, he made it clear that his first priority was the reform of the Roman Curia. He formed the “C9” council of cardinals to assist him in the long-term project of overhauling the whole structure of governance for the Universal Church, with the eventual aim of possibly replacing Pastor Bonus, which is the written constitution for how the Holy See is structured and run.
While this eventual goal will take years to achieve, Francis also made a number of immediate reforms to how the Vatican operates. This was done with the stated aim of addressing an unhealthy concentration of power in some departments, most immediately in the Secretariat of State, and introducing international standards of transparency and accountability across the Curia.
The most important vehicle for delivering these reforms was the creation of the Council for the Economy, and the Secretariat for the Economy, which is headed by Cardinal Pell. This was done in February of 2014 with the motu proprio Fidelis dispensator et prudens, which gives the council and secretariat, and Cardinal Pell, total autonomy in delivering financial reform.
It specifically says: “The secretariat is directly responsible to the Holy Father and is competent for the economic control and vigilance over [other bodies: the administrative and financial structures and activities of the dicasteries of the Roman Curia, the institutions linked to the Holy See, and the Vatican City State.] The competence of the secretariat therefore extends to all that in whatsoever manner concerns such material.”
It is in the face of this clear mandate to act that last week’s letter from Archbishop Becciu in the Secretariat of State surfaced, which “suspended” the independent audit of the Vatican’s finances by PricewaterhouseCoopers. Various rationales for this action were subsequently advanced and then refuted by the Vatican, and it now seems clear that the Secretariat of State acted without authority.
It is hard credibly to present this as anything other than a political move by the secretariat, which has traditionally been where almost all administrative power in the Vatican was concentrated. While we cannot say for sure what the actual aim was in so publicly exceeding its remit, there are a few plausible explanations. The first is that it is a straightforward test of the autonomy of Cardinal Pell and his new department; could the secretariat de facto overrule them, even if it technically lacked the power to do so?
The second, even more unsavoury, possibility is that it is a piece of wilful obstructionism. Several reports have suggested that the letter was a personal attack on Cardinal Pell, an attempt to make him appear weak and ineffective.
If the latter is true, the timing may be significant. When he was made prefect of the Secretariat for the Economy last year, Cardinal Pell was installed with a five-year mandate. However, canon law requires that the heads of all curial departments submit their resignations when they turn 75, as Cardinal Pell will this summer. If, so the reasoning goes, he can be made to appear ineffective in the run-up to his birthday, the Holy Father might be persuaded to take the opportunity to accept his resignation and replace him early.
Cardinal Pell, for his part, has responded very diplomatically. While it is clear that were Archbishop Becciu’s letter to be legally challenged it would fail, Cardinal Pell has not elected to do so. Instead, he has limited his public reaction to mild expressions of “surprise” and stated that he expects the audit to resume “shortly”.
Following the Secretariat of State’s announcement, Cardinal Pell had a private audience with Pope Francis and remains confident that both he and the reform agenda have full papal support. His decision to accept the suspension as a fait accompli appears to be a choice not to fan the fire. While diplomatic, this carries the risk that the Secretariat of State’s example might embolden other departments to try similar tactics.
Now that the suspension of the audit has occurred, the real test will be the speed with which it resumes, and the extent to which those opposed to it are able to carve out exemptions for themselves. It is understood that there is real opposition, even offence, at the rigours of international standards of transparency, and a resistance to some of the basic provisions such as the need for independent verification of balances, and the countersigning of major expenditures.
At stake is the credibility of Pope Francis’s reform agenda, and it is becoming clear that the project will require an increasing amount of his personal attention and authority if he is to bring it to fruition.
As Pope, he has famously preferred a more pastoral style, emphasising his role as priest. The coming months will show the extent to which he is willing to play the king in pursuit of his goals.
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