Vatican Names New Head of Office Overseeing Holy See’s Assets

Pope Benedict XVI appointed Bishop Domenico Calcagno to head the Administration of the Patrimony of the Holy See, the office that oversees the Vatican’s assets.

Calcagno will replace Cardinal Attilio Nicora, according to a statement on the Vatican’s website today. Nicora earlier this year became head of the Authority of Financial Information, the Vatican’s new financial watchdog.

"The Holy Father Benedict XVI today accepted the request presented by Cardinal Attilio Nicora to be relieved of his duties as president of the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See (APSA) so as to be able to dedicate all his energies to the new Financial Information Authority, which the Pope brought into being with his 'Motu Proprio' of 30 December 2010. Having begun the initial phase of establishing the new structure and taken the first steps to implement measures to counter money laundering, attention must now be given to interchange and dialogue with international institutions so that, by means of the necessary evaluations, the Holy See and Vatican City State may obtain recognition as 'a non-EU equivalent State'".OP/ VIS 20110707 (150)