The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-05-24
VATICAN EXPENSES
The Pope is Taking Steps to
Secure Greater
ECONOMY OF EXPENDITURE.
Leo's Generosity to Causes Borders on Prod
igality-The United States Contributes
the Most to Peters Pence.

ROME, May 23.-The Pope is takins
steps to secure greater economy of ex-
penditure at the Vatican. He has ap.
pointed commission. Of cardinals charged
to do their utmost to effect reduction Of
expenses. 1t is believed to be the frs
time since Sextus that a Pope had inter
fered in the constitution of the congrega.
ton of Rome. The misery in Italy and the
effects of national bankruptcy on the funds
Of the Vatican have considerably aug
mented the extraordinary expenses.
Every body asks money Of the Pope. Then,
again, the work of the holy see is continu-
ally increasing. Leo XIII has created at
Rome, and especially in mission fields
special undertakings which require much
money. The crusade against slavery has
absorbed considerable sums. The Pope is
lavish in his endowments to schools
sciences, and benevolent agencies. Lee
XIII is not so liberal to persons as was
Plus TX, but to causes Of general interest
his generosity borders on prodigality.
1t is the practice of the radical press of
all countries, and especially Italy, at times
10 represent the Pope as disposing of mil
lions on millions; as surrounded by all the
luAOIlcS anu nl1iOGnCS VI al EdsItTI
potentate, and as exploiting for interested
purposes the faith of his people. AT other
times it represents the contributions OF
pence as dwindling to insignificant pro
portions, and that the Pope will soon be
obliged to accept the annuity of 3,000.001
francs set apart for him by the Italian gov
eminent under the guarantee law. Neither
Of these representations is accurate.
While the resources OF the Pope are les S
than the civil list of most European sover
eigns, yet, by wise administration, these
resources, if not entirely adequate to al
the needs of the church, are sufficient 10
insure the working of its principal ser
vices.
The revenues of the pontifical budget
are disbursed substantially as follows: At
the disposal of the Pope, 500, 900 francs
cardinals, 100000; poor dioceses, 400, 900;
prefecture of apostolic palaces, 1850, 600
secretaryship Of state, 1000, 600; employees
and functionaries, 100000; pontifica
schools and aims giving, 100000. The
half million at the disposal of the Pope
serves to maintain his household and also
TO meet other expenditures not included
under other headings of the budget Car
dinais in the curia are maintained at the
expense of the holy father. The emolu
ments of each cardinal amount to q, 00C
francs.
The fourth item of the budget, that of
the prefecture Of palaces, varies between
one and half and two million francs. Il
includes all the expenses for the pontifica
court: palace of the Vatican and apostolic
palaces; maintenance OF museums and gal
leries, etc.
The million francs assigned to the secre
taryship of state covers the expenses Of
that office and those Of nunciatures anC
apostolic delegations.
The allowance for employees and func.
tionaries covers only the persons of the
faithful servants of the pontitical govern
ment who refused to pass into the service
OF the Italian government. This item be-
comes smaller yearly as death thins the
ranks of the veterans.
Nearly all the Catholic schools in Rome
are maintained at the charge of the pope
and the demands of charity tends con
atantly to increase. Outside Of the ordi-
nary expenses, there is a heavy budget of
extraordinary expenses. The propaganda
of faith has already received three subven-
tons of 500, 900 francs each; while institu-
tions and academies of Rome receive sub.
sides. The Restoration of Basilicia of the
Lateran has cost 5000, 900 francs. It is i'm
possible to estimate how much the Pope
gives privately.
Resources are difficult to enumerate
Even the administration of St. Peter.
pence itself does not know the exact re
ceipts and expenditures Of the Pope be
cause Leo XIII receives directly the great
est sums of the bishops and laity. Par
of this money is devoted to extraordinar,
work and expenses, and part goes toward
increasing the secret fund reserved fo
future needs. 1t is asserted this fund alb
sorbed 10000 900 francs of the sum re
ceived by the Pope on the occasion of hi
sacerdotal jubilee in 1887. The averag,
amount received annually by the Pope il
ST. Peters pence is between 5000, 900 ant
5000, 600 francs. The United States nov
contributes more than France to this fund
sending annually S200, 600. Belgium is mex
after France. then Holland, Spain
Germany and last of all, Italy.