Pope issues Motu Proprio on new Financial Intelligence Authority

(Vatican Radio) The Vatican press office on Monday announced the publication of a Motu Proprio in which Pope Francis officially approves the new statutes of the Holy See’s Financial Intelligence Authority. This document follows up on earlier regulations from Pope Francis, and from his predecessor Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, to put in place norms on financial transparency and oversight of the Institute of Works of Religion (IOR), commonly known as the Vatican Bank.

Please find below the full English text of the note from the Vatican press office on the new Motu Proprio:

The Apostolic Letter issued Motu Proprio of 15 November 2013, by which Pope Francis has approved the attached new Statutes of the Financial Intelligence Authority (F.I.A.), is being published today. This pontifical document will enter into force on 21 November 2013.
As is known, with his Motu Proprio of 8 August 2013 and with the Law N. XVIII of 8 October 2013 on norms on transparency, supervision and financial intelligence, Pope Francis had strengthened further the institutional framework of the Holy See and the Vatican City State to prevent and contrast potential illicit activities in the financial sector and had accorded to the F.I.A., in addition to the functions that it already had on the basis of the Motu Proprio of Benedict XVI of 30 December 2010, the function of prudential supervision of those entities that carry out professionally financial activities. The present Statutes adapt F.I.A.’s internal structure to the functions it is now called to perform.
In particular, the Statutes distinguish the role and functions of the President, the Board of Directors and the Directorate, so as to ensure that the F.I.A. may fulfill even more adequately its institutional functions in full autonomy and independence and in a manner consistent with the institutional and legal framework of the Holy See and the Vatican City State. In addition, the new Statutes establish a specific office for prudential supervision, providing it with the necessary professional resources.