Cardinal Pell strongly defends Secretariat for Economy, notes spending was under budget

November 05, 2015

The Secretariat for the Economy has issued a strong statement criticizing two new books on Vatican finances and defending the new office against charges of excessive spending.

The new books make “false and misleading claims” about the Secretariat, says Cardinal George Pell, the prefect of the new office. Contrary to public charges, the cardinal notes, the Secretariat for the Economy completed its first year of operations “well below its 2014 budget.”

Despite the costs of setting up a new department, the Secretariat has followed its own directives for minimizing spending and documenting all expenses, Cardinal Pell says. He observes that the Secretariat for the Economy is “one of the very few entities [at the Vatican] to propose a reduction in total expenditures in its 2015 budget submission.”

 

---

For all current news, visit our News home page.

---

 
Further information:

• Cardinal Pell's Office: New Books Contain 'False and Misleading Claims' (National Catholic Register)