The publication marks one of the most detailed revelations of Vatican assets in history. It lists 4051 properties in Italy and 1120 abroad, not counting the Vatican embassies.
The information was published in two documents, a total of more than 50 pages of financial statements: the consolidated financial statements for 2020 and the first-ever public register of the Apostolic See Administration (APSA), which manages the Church’s payroll, real estate and investment.
Records show that APSA owns investment real estate in the luxury districts of Paris, Geneva and Lausanne, as well as in London, where the acquisition of real estate in the South Kensington area led to huge losses in 2014. The information was published before the court next Tuesday on the acquisition of property in London by the Vatican Secretariat of State. Ten people are accused of the purchase, including prominent cardinal Angelo Becciou. Some are accused of embezzlement, money laundering, fraud, extortion and abuse of office.
Most of the Vatican’s property in Italy is rented out at reduced prices by the Church. About 40 percent are institutional buildings, such as monasteries, as well as schools and hospitals, according to Reuters.
Documents also show that the Roman Curia, the central administration of the Catholic Church, in 2020 faced a deficit of 64.8 million euros. Vatican officials accuse the coronavirus pandemic of negatively affecting finances.