St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-05-24
REVENUES OF ROME.
The Present Pope Is Taking
Measures to Reduce Ex-
penSeS.
Increased and Broadened De-
mands Upon the Vatican
Treasury.
Some Interesting Figures
Taken From the POntifi-
cal Budget.
Peters Pence May Be Relied
Upon to Supply Papal
Needs.

ROME, May 23.-lne pope is taxing
steps to secure greater economy of eX-
penditure at the Vatican. He has ap-
pointed commission consisting of three
cardinals charged to do their utmost to
effect reduction in expenses. 1t is be-
lieved to be the first time since SiXtus
V. that pope has interfered in the con-
stitution of some of the congregations.
People are beginning to ask whether
this step means that the pope is about
to simplify the complicated work of
SiXtus V. as not being in harmony with
the existing needs of the church. This
iniative might have the happiest, results
for the simplicati0D and Capitalization
of the public services could be the first
step toward the adaptation of these
services to the particular eXigencies of
our times. From financial point of
view the proposed reductions in eX-
penses are probably due to the in
creased demands upon the holy see.
The misery i'll Italy and the effects of
the national bankruptcy on the funds of
the Vatican have considerably aug
mented the extraordinary expenses.
Everybody asks money of the pope. Then
again, the work of the holy see is con-
tinually increasing. Leo XIII. has
created at Rome, especially in the mis-
sion fields, special undertakings which
require much money. The crusade
against slavery has absorbed consider
able sums. The pope is
Lavish in EndOTments'
to schools, sciences and benevolent
agencies. Leo XIII. is not so liberal to
persons as was Plus TX, but to causes
of general interest his generosity bor-
ders on prodigality. 1t is the practice
of the radical press of all countries, and
especially of Italy, at times to represent
the pope as dlspoSing of millions on
millions, as surrounded by all the lux
urieS and magniicence of an Eastern
potentate, and as exploiting for inter-
ested- purposes the faith of his people.
At other times it represents that the
contributions of st. Peters pence are
dwindling to insignificant proportions,
and that the pope will soon be obliged
to accept the annuity of 100000 francs
set apart for him by the Italian govern
ment under the guarantee law. Neither
of these representations is accu-
rate. While the resources of the
pope, or less than the civil list of most
European sovereigns; yet, by wise adj
miniStrati0n, these resources, if not en-
tirely adequate to all the needs of the
church, are sufficient to insure the
working of its principal services. The
revenues of the pOntifcal budget are
disbursed substantially as follows: At
the disposal of the pope, 100000 francs;
the cardinals, 100000 francs; for poor
dioceses, 100000 francs; prefecture of
el tn1i ,1alo I fron
the secretaryShip of state, 100000
francs; employees aud functionares, l.
100000 francs; pontifical schools and
almS-giving. 100000 francs. The half
million at the disposal of the pope
serves to maintain his household and to
meet the
other Expenditures
not included under the 9th er headings
of the budget, such as the costs of dec
Grafton, insignia, presents to princely
personages, purchases of objects of art,
and aims accorded 'motu proprio."
Cardinals in curia are maintained at the
expense of the holy father. The emol-
uments of each cardinal amount to 90,
600 francs. The fourth item of the
budget, that of the prefecture of the
palaces, varies between one and half
and two million francs. 1t includes
all expenses for the pontifcal
court, the palace of the Vatican and
the apostolic palaces, the maintenance
of the museums and galleries, the eX-
penses Of restoration of the works of
art, the gardens of the Vatican, ETC.
The 100000 francs assigned to the sec
retaryship OF state cover the expenses
of that office and those of the nuncia-
lures and apostolic delegations. The
allowance for ''employes and function
aries" covers only the pensions of the
faithful servants of the pontificial gov
ernment who refused to pass into the
service of the Italian government. This
item becomes smaller year by year 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 tend
constantly to increase. Outside of these
ordinary expenses there Is heavy bud
get of extraordinary expenses. The
propaganda of the faith has already re-
ceiVed three subventions of 100000
francs each, while the institutions and
academies of Rome receive subsidies.
The restoration of the Basilica of the
Lateran has cost 100000 francs. 1t is
impossible to estimate how much the
pope gives privately.
The Papal Resources
are difficult to enumerate. Even the
administration of st. Peters pence
itself does not know the exact receipts
and expenditures of the pope, because
Leo XIII. receives directly the greatest
sums from the bishops and the Iaity.
Part of this money is devoted to extra
ordinary work and expenses, and part
goes towards increasing the secret fund
reserved for future needs. Initiating
Sixtus v, Leo XIII. wishes to leave to
his successor a tesore pontitice for ex-
ceptional circumstances, as wal, Exile or
penurY. 1t is asserted that this fund
absorbed 30,000,000 francs of the sum
received by him on the occasion of his
sacerdotal jubilee in 1887. The average
amount received annually by tie pope
in st. Peters pence is between eight
and nine million francs. There has been
some falling off in the amount received
from France. due, as it is thought at the
Vatican, to the educational laws, which
weigh heavily on the french people.
but this has been more than counter
balanced by the increase of contri-
buttons from many other countries.
The United States now contribute more
than France to this fund, sending an
nually 100000. Belgium comes next
after France, then Holland, Spain, Ger
many, and last of all Italy. 1t seems
highly improbable that the pope will
ever accept the sum assured him by
the Italian government in the guaran-
tee law. as it would be an admission of
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