The Vatican now has a series of
laws aimed at preventing and combating money laundering of the proceeds
of criminal activity and terrorist financing.
These provisions in the
financial field - four laws – were issued with a "Motu proprio" by
Benedict XVI and include the creation of a specific organization, the
Financial Intelligence Authority (FIA) with the task of preventing and
combating money laundering.
"The Holy See - reads the papal document - has always raised
its voice to urge all people of good will, and especially the leaders of
nations, to commit to the building, through a just and lasting peace
all over the world, the universal city of God, which is the goal of the
history of the human family [Benedict XVI, Encyclical Letter. Caritas in
Veritate (June 29, 2009), 7: AAS 101/2009), 645]. Unfortunately, peace
in our times, in an increasingly global society, is threatened by
various causes, including that of a misuse of the market and economy and
the terrible and destructive violence which terrorism perpetrates,
causing death, suffering, hatred and social instability. Quite
appropriately, the international community is increasingly equipping
itself with legal principles and tools that will help prevent and combat
money laundering and terrorist financing”.
"The Holy See welcomes this commitment and will make these
rules their own in the use of these material resources that are
necessary to the mission and duties of Vatican City State."
The new laws, says Benedict XVI should be seen against this
background, even in regards the Monetary Agreement between Vatican City
State and the European Union of 17 December 2009.
“As of today, all organisations associated with the government
of the Catholic Church - and with the Church's "support": Vatican City
State - have, in a spirit of sincere collaboration, become part of that
system of juridical principles and instruments which the international
community is creating with the aim of guaranteeing just and honest
coexistence in an increasingly globalised world; a world in which,
unfortunately, economy and finance is not infrequently a field for
illegal activities, such as the recycling of the profits of crime and
the financing of terrorism, true threats to justice and peace in the
world”.
With an implicit reference to incidents of misunderstanding
that occurred in the past with the Italian State, Father Lombardi
concluded, " Those errors which so quickly become the cause of "scandal"
for public opinion and the faithful will be avoided. In the final
analysis the Church will be more "credible" before the members of the
international community, and this is of vital importance for her
evangelical mission”.
SIC: AN/INT'L