The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1894-02-02
THE POPE'S TREASURY.
Decreasing Revenues Render Rigid
Economy Necessary.
Annual Income and Expenses of the Vati-
can-vast Sums of Money Contrib
uted by Different Nations at
the Papal Jubilee.

Since the heavy losses made by the
pope a year or more ago the finances
of the vatican have been superintendent
with great care. 1t is known, says a
Paris paper, that committee of pre-
lates and several cardinals exists at
Rome, whose duty it is to regulate the
use of the sums of money which flow
into the treasury of the vatican. These
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 vari'
GUS kinds, but the greater part of 1t
consists of money or bonds, placed in
England and France, under control of
the Paris house of Rothschild. Peters
pence is an annual revenue which is
far from being fixed. In good years
the total of the sum received from all
countries of the world reaches 100000
francs. Sometimes it is as low as
6,0oO,0 and even 100000. This has
been the case for the last five years.
This diminution is due, in great part,
to the discord between the royalists
and the French Catholics produced by
the republican policy of the pope.
France alone furnished two-thirds and
often three-quarters of Peters pence.
And in France it is the royalists who
prove themselves mots generous. But
since the adhesion of Leo XIII. to the
republic many of them, more royalist
than Catholic, have closed their purses
to the pope. However, despite all this,
French bishops still forward the larg-
est sums to his holiness. Thus, the
bishop of Mantle, sent few days ago
100000 francs from his flock as their
gift to the vatican treasury.
Italy contributes only a small part
of the revenue-a hundred thousand
francs year. The Romans show
themselves in this regard less generous
than other italians. On the other
hand, the Anglo-Saxon countries
England, Ireland, Australia and the
United States-begin to send impor-
tant sums. If Catholicism continues
to grow in these countries, it is easy to
see that in time the vatican will draw
considerable sums from them. Again,
there are the royal courts, such as that
of Austria, which send annually rich
presents to the pope. This is even
true of princes of ancient Italian
families. Francis IL, e4-king of Ma
pies, and Maria Theresa, formerly
grand duchess of Tuscany, never fail
to send their offerings, which consist
of several thousands of francs Comte
de Chambord was accustomed to give
annually $4,000 francs; the Count of
Paris sends the same sum. The ex-
penses of the vatican amount annually
to more than 100000 francs. They
are regulated as follows: For the per-
sonal wants of the pope, 100000 francs;
for the cardinals, 100000; for poor do
ceses, 100000; administration of the
vatican, 1,S00,000; secretary of state,
1000. 900; employees and ablegates, l.
100000; support of schools and poor,
100000. The cardinals at Rome live
at the expense of the pope. The in
come of each from this source is at
least $4,000 francs. The secretary of
state is charged with upholding rela-
tions with foreign governments by the
mediation of nuncios. The four most
mportant-Paris, Vienna, Madrid and
Lisbon-each receive an allowance of
10000 francs year. The last jubilee
of Pope Leo XIII. brought to the
vatican {, 100000 francs. At the first,
celebrated five years ago, 100000
francs were received. In the course of
years the pope has introduced num-
Der of economies in the different
branches of the vatican service, and
for that reason he has been called
misery. This accusation is not merit
ed; the economies became necessary in
a state whose expenses are consider
able and whose revenues continue to
diminish. Leo XIII. has many reasons
to follow the example of his illustrious
predecessor, Sixtus, as it is difficult in
the present time to count on the gen.
crosby of the faithful.