By Christopher Wells
With a chirograph (a papal decree intended for the Roman Curia) signed on Sep 29 but released today, Dec 4, Pope Leo XIV suppresses the Commission for Donations for the Holy See, less than ten months after its establishment by Pope Francis in Feb 2025.
Francis had intended to the new commission to promote donations from the faithful, episcopal conferences, and other potential benefactors in support of the mission and charitable work of the Holy See. The chirograph establishing the commission was signed on Feb 11 2025 and made public two weeks later, on Feb 26, while Francis was hospitalized at the Gemelli Policlinic in Rome.
In the new chirograph, Pope Leo writes, “The issue of donations and fundraising for the Holy See represents an important aspect of the bond of unity and charity between the particular Churches and the Apostolic See, particularly from the perspective of the effective exercise of the Petrine ministry.”
He goes on to note that the Council for the Economy, charged with overseeing the administrative and financial structures and activities of the Holy See “has devoted particular attention” to the study of fundraising for the Holy See, and made “several recommendations aimed at reshaping the current institutional structure responsible for managing this area.”
In accordance with the procedures outlined in Praedicate Evangelium, after evaluating the suggestions of the Council and consulting experts, Pope Leo goes on to approve the content of the Council’s “resolution and recommendations,” beginning with the suppression of the Commission for Donations to the Holy See.
Suppression of the Commission
The chirograph goes on to repeal the statutes of the suppressed Commission, and decrees that all members of the commission immediately cease their function. Further, it requires that “all assets currently belonging to the Commission be immediately transferred to the Holy See,” delegating to the President of the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See the power “to proceed with the liquidation of the Commission” according to the current legislation.
Pope Leo provides for the Secretariat for the Economy, together with a working group appointed by it, to be responsible for any issues that arise from the dissolution of the Commission, instructing them to keep the Council for the Economy informed of all measures undertaken for that end.
Another working group “will be established to formulate proposals regarding the general issue of fundraising for the Holy See, along with the definition of an appropriate structure. The Council for the Economy will propose the names of the members of this group, which will be submitted to the Roman Pontiff through the Secretariat of State.” – Vatican News
