The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1894-06-13
THE POPE's FINANCES.
A Continued Decrease in tbs Rev
enues Of the Vatican
some Of the Sources Of Income Upon
which the Bead Of the Roman
Church has TO Depend
Have Bailed-

since the heavy losses made by the
none a year or more ago the finances
81 the vatican have been superinteEoed
with great care It is known, says a
Paris paper, that q committee OF pre-
lates and several cardinals exist az
Rome whose duty it is TO regulate the
use Of the sums Of money which How
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 oi
various kinds, bat the greater part OF
II consists Of money and bonds placed
in ENGLAND and fance. under control
Of the Paris house Of R0thschiid- Pc
ter's pence Is an annual revenue which
Is far from being fixed In good years
the total Of the sum received from al
countries Of the world reaches 100000
francs Sometimes Il is as low as
Goo. 600 and even 5000, 900.
This has been the case for the last
fvc years. This diminution is due in
great part 70 the disc0rd between the
roraIists and the French Catholics
Droduced by the republican policy o.
the pope. France alone furnished two
thirds and often three-quarters Of
Peters pence. And IN France it Is the
roralists who prove themselves most
generous. But since the adhesion OF
Leo XIII. 10 the republic many Of
them. mora royalist than Catholic,
have closed their purses to the pope
However. despite ali this. French bish-
ems stiIl forward the largest sums to
his holiness. Thus the bishop Of Mantle
sent few days ago 100000 francs
from his hock as their gift II the vat
sean treasury.
Italy contributes only a small part
Of the revenue-a few hundred thou
sand francs q wear. The Romans show
themselves in this regard less generous
than Other Italians. On the other
hand, the Anglo-Saxon eountries-
England. ireland, Australia and the
United States-begin 10 send impor-
t-nt sums. If Catholicism continues
20 grow in these countries It is easy 10
see that in time the vatican win draw
considerable sums from them
Again. there are the royal courts,
such a. Austria, which send annually
rich presents 10 thep pope. This iseven
true Of princes Of ancient Italian fam
iiies- Francis H.. ex-king Of Naples,
and Marie Theresa, formerly grand
duchess Of Tuscany, never fail 70 send
their offerings, which consist Of sever
al thousands OF francs. The compte
de Chambord was accustomed TO send
annually $4,000 francs; the count Of
Paris sends the samc sum.
The expenses Of the vatican,
amount annually TO more than T,0o0,-
O03 francs. They are regulated as
follows: For the personal wants OF
the pope, 100000 francs; for the
cardinals. 100000; fer poor dioceses,
400. coo; administration OF the vatican.
]. 500. 900; secretary Of state, 100000;
enploycs and ablegates, I,500,o 600; sup
port Of schools and poor, 100000.
The cardinals at Rome live at the ex-
pense Of the pope. The income Of each
from this source Is at least ., ,0c0 francs
The secretary of state is charged with
Spholding relations with foreign gov
ernments by the mediation of nuncios.
The four most important-Paris, Wen
M, Madrid and Lisb0n-each receive
an allowance Of 81. 900 francs a year.
The last jubilee Of Pope Leo NIL
brought 10 the vatican 3.000, 600 francs
At the first. celebrated five years ago.
T.. 100000 francs were received In the
course Of years the pope has introduced
a number Of economies in the different
branches Of the vatican service and for
that reason he has been called misery.
This accusation IS not nerited; the
economies became necessary in a state
whose expenses are considerable and
whose revenues continue ts diminish.
Leo NH. has many reasons 20 follow
the example of his illustrious predeces-
sor. SiNtus, as it Is difficult in the pres
ont time to count on the generosity Of
the faithful