The herald., 1893-12-31
TIE PORES FINANCES.
AN ERA OF ECONOMY AT THE
VATICAN.
France the Most Liberal Contributors.
Gifts frnm Royal Courts.
Other Interest,"
Ing Details.
Copyright. 1888.

Since the heavy losses made by the
pope year or more ago the finances of
the Vatican have been superntended
with great care. ''It lie known" says
a Paris paper, ''that a committee OF
prelates and eeveral cardinals exists at
Rome whose duty it is to regu!aie The
use OF the sums OF money which flow
into the treasury OF the Vatican. Dhese
sums come principally from two sources :.
The revenues Of the property possessed
by the pope and the gifts of the faithful,
known as Peters pence. The property
of the Vatican is OF various kinds. but
the greater part OF it consists of money
or bonds, placed in England and France
under control OF the Paris house OF
Rothschid. Peter's pencs is an annual
revenue which is far from being fixed.
In good years the total of the sum re
ceived from all countries OF the world
reaches 5000, 900 francs. Sometimes it
10 as low as 6, ,000, 900 and even 5 900 900.
This has been thercase for the last five
years. This diminution is due, in great
part, to the discord between the royal
ists and the French Catholics, produced
by the republican policy of the pope.
France alone furnished two-thirds and
often three.qngrters OF Peters pence.
And in France it is the royalists who
prove themselves most generous, But
since the adhesion of Leo XIII 70 the
republic many of them, more royalst
than Catholic. have closed their purses
to the pope. However, despite all this,
Frefch bishops still forward the largest
Gums to his holiness. Thus the b shop
OF Mantle sent few days ago 1000
fraucs from his flock as their gift to the
vatican treasury.
ITALY" adds the Journal, contrib
utes only small part OF the revenue-a
few hundred thousand francs a year.
The Romans show themselves in this
regard less generous than the other
Italians On the other hand. the Anglo
Saxon countries : England. Ireland,
Australia and the United States-begin
10 send important sums, Ii Catholicism N
continues to grow in these countries, it
ia easy to see that in time the Vatican
will draw considerable sums from them
again. there are the royal courts,
such as Austria, which send annually
rich presents to the pope. This is even
true of princes of ancient italian
families. Francis II, ex king of Naples,
and Marie Theresa, formerly grand
duchess OF Tuscany, never fail to seud
their offerings, which consist of several
thousands OF francs. The Comte de
Chsmbord was accustomed to send an
nually 30. 900 francs the Count of Paris
sends the same sum.
1.-The expenses of the vatican" con-
tinues tho writer, amount annually to
more than 100000 francs. They are
regulated MS follows: For the personal
wants OF the pope. 800 900 francs; for
the cardinals. 100000 francs; for poor
dioceses, 400 00D administration of the
vatican. 100000; secretary OF state,
1000,000 employees and ablegates,
1,500. 600; support of schools and poor,
l,200. 900.
1.-The cardinals at Rome live at the
expense OF the pope, The income Of
each from this source is at least % 900
francs. The secretary of state is charged
with upholding relations with foreign
governments by the mediation of nun
clos. The four most i'm mportant-Paris,
Vienna, Madrid and Lisbon - each
receive an allowance Of $4,000 francs a
year.
''The last jubilee of Pope Leo XIII
brought to the vatican 5000, 900 francs.
At the first, celebrated five years ago,
IL 600, 000 francs were received. In the
course of years the Pope hes introduced
a number of economies in the different
branches of the vatican service, and for
that reason he has been called miserly.
This accusation is not merited; the
economies became necessary in q state
whose expenses are considerable and
whose revecues continue to diminish.
Leo NIL has many reasons to follow
the examples of his illustrious prede-
cessor. Sixtus, as it is difficult in the
present time to count on the generosity
of tne faithful"