New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-05-31
FINANCES OF POPE LEO Kill
THE CHANNELS MANY IN WHICH PETEHS
PENCE MUST FLOW.

THE CHANNELS MANY IN WHICH PETEHS
PENCE MUST FLOW.
Rome. May 90.
The finances of the Vatican. according TO WE'LL
founded reports. are not in as fourishinR con-
dition as His Holiness might wish. For the hrsS
time in centuries the Pope has been obliged 10
institute measures of economy. He has appointed
a commission Of three cardinals to make at once
o critical examination Of the financial situations
They will determine where legitimate expenses
can be reduced and what contributions may b
discontinued The annual outlay OF the Papa1
court even in these davs of its comparative pov-s
erty. is large and exacting. Year by year. In
fact. the demands upon the Holy See seem to IN
crease The misery so general in Italy today and
the rational bankruptcy have augmented inc
extraordinary expenses. Besides. Leo XIII mas
not been idle. Moved by the desire 70
restore the former Papal glory ana 70
add to the power Of the church,
ne has established institutions in Rome and other
Italian cities which require large sums Of money!
The crusade against slavery, in which HIS Hob
ness took an active part, has absorbed thousands
OF lire Colleges, schools, missions, benevolenu
agencies, have been highly endowed. The conse'
quences Of this prodgal and liberal course navo
begun to manifest themselves and made measu10
Of economy, for the present, necessary.
Although the drafts upon the treasury are largss
no one fears that the Pope is In danger OF Dank~
ruptcy. st. Peters pence has become perma-
nent institution, and will be sufficient, with Wis
administration, for ordinary Papal needs Inc
annual income from this source varies between
5000 900 and 100000 francs. France no longer
sends the large contributions for which she was
once distinguished But the gifts through this
channel from other countries more than counter
balance that loss. The United States alone sends
annually 100000. France stands next in tho
list of contributing nations; Belgium, Spain, Ger
many and Italy follow the two republics In tho
order named in all probability an appeal TO the
Catholics throughout the world Will be made 70
increase their gifts of st. Peters pence 1t is
believed at least that that will be one recommends
ton of the Committee of Cardinals.
The annual Papa budget for 1891 amounted tn
100000 lire, 81 ,432,O 900, and was made up 40
follows
E e. q, ,s. Pirate 4$$ss
For the projects Of the Apostolic Palace 500 600
For For sds and the Papa Sooooo
As regards the first item, 100000 lire are de-
voted annually to the maintenance Of the papai
household and to the discharge Of personal obiga-
lions incurred by the sovereign of the Church.
In the latter category belong the numerous presents
purchase of the insignia of orders conferred by
the Pope Such insignia however, are purchased
only in exceptional cases. for rulers of countries,
celebrated statesmen and persons Of high degree.
Ordinarily, when the Pope honors contemporary
with q decoration, the announcement is accom-
panied by "Figurino," representing the accom-
panying uniform. The recipient is at perfect
liberty to purchase or dispense with the necessary
lace and gold.
All cardinals in curis, that is, resident in Rome,
receive an annual allowance from the Pope The
remaining princes of the Church are either active
archbishops or bishops with their own sources OF
income At the present time there are twenty
five cardinals in curia. whose minimum income Is
90 600 lire In consideration of the style In
which they are obliged to live and Of their repre-
sentative duties this sum is not large Indeed
for some of them life is not particularly easy.
Fortunately, however Others belong to wealthy
and distinguished families who are able to add
greater or less amount TO their incomes. Besides
their stipulated salary, known as the "mensa car
dinalizia," twelve Of the cardinals I'LL addluonaI
Offices at the Vatican, for which they receive
speciaI COMPENSATION Among the enviabls
offices in the gift of the Pope are
tbe Deanery of the Holy College, Messenger OF
tba Rreve. now the Cardinal Ledochowsbi, and
the General Vicar of His Holiness. These offices
involve an expenditure averaging between 6o'|
600 and 100000 lire. Several OF the Places
possibly for purposes of economy. are at presenu
vacant.
Four hundred and sixty thousand lire are do@
mated annually to the poor dioceses. These do
,oees chiefly Italian, are numerous Priestly
Summaries and non.endowed parishes also draw
their means of support from the Vatican
The YEARLY allotment TO the secretaries OF state
is 600, 900 lire The nuncios OF the nrst and
second class the lnternuncioS, the apostohc deie'
cations, and the extraordinary embassies SEM
abroad upon unusual missions all paid from
this fund The salaries of the officials OF the
ministry are also charged to the same appropria~
tim. Al the present time the Vatican is repre-
sented by four nuncios of the first class. at VIENNA
Paris, Madrid and Lisbon; two nuncios Of tho
second class at Munich and Brussels; two inter-
nuncios at the Hague and Rio Janeiro and three
APOSTOLIC delegations. The first apostolic dele"
CATION is accredited to Ecuador Bolivia ana feru.
the second to the United States Of Colombia, and
the third to San Domingo. Hayti and Venezuela.
The Vatican also formerly represented az
Berne, Switzerland by nuncio. and In ChiiI
and Costa RIGA by apostolic delegations These
posts at present. however, are vacant.
In 1870, after the Italian troops marched INTO
Rome by the Porta PA. the majority Of the Papah
officials declined to enter the service OF uay;
Ile Pope, OF course. deprived ol Iuo VmpoA"A
mower. had no employment for the thousands OF
Officials who had added brilliancy to his court.
But many of them had been long in the service OF
the Vatican. and he did not wish TO throw them
nnon their own resources He determined to PEN
sion them therefore, in order to provide for their
support. The lapse of years has thinned their
ranks Many Of them, like Pope Plus TX. him
self. have been gathered TO their fathers; others
have departed from the Eternal City,. Although
in the first ten years after the establishment of
the list the outlay heavy burden to the
Pope. il has now been reduced TO 1900. 900 lire.
BY the end of the first decade of the twentieth
century few benefaaries will remain to draw
their pensions.
Although the appropriation mentioned above
comprises the ordinary expenses of the Vatican IL