Pope Francis Cautions Against Financial Misconduct in Missionary Fundraising Post AP Investigation

On Saturday, Pope Francis admonished the Vatican’s missionary fundraisers to prevent financial malpractice from infiltrating their work, stressing that their actions should be driven by spirituality and the dissemination of the Gospel, rather than pure entrepreneurship. These remarks were made to the national directors of the Vatican’s Pontifical Mission Societies, organizations that collect funds for the Catholic Church’s missionary work in developing countries.

His comments appeared to reference a recent investigation by Big Big News regarding suspicious financial transactions within the U.S. branch of the Pontifical Mission Societies. It revealed that the former head had overseen the transfer of at least $17 million from a quasi-endowment fund and donations into a non-profit and a private equity fund, both of which he now runs. These initiatives offer low-interest loans to church-operated agribusinesses in Africa.

“Please, do not equate POM to mere money,” said Francis, using the Italian abbreviation for the Pontifical Mission Societies. “It is a tool, a means. Does it need money? Yes, but it’s more than just money.” He stated that lacking spirituality in the Church’s missionary initiatives could lead to corruption. “Because if spirituality is absent and it’s merely about entrepreneurship, corruption instantly enters,” he said.

The Vatican expressed its intention to understand the U.S. branch transfers, which appeared to be legal as they were approved by the previous board. The AP investigation did not find any signs of corruption, but a legal review, commissioned by the new national director Monsignor Kieran Harrington, suggested that the former head may have omitted information or downplayed Vatican concerns when presenting to the board that approved the transfers.

Rev. Andrew Small, the former head of The Pontifical Mission Societies in the U.S., strongly defended the transfers and investments as fully sanctioned and in line with the church’s mission. Small is currently second in command at the Vatican’s child protection advisory board, a body set up by Francis in response to the clergy sexual abuse scandal.

Boston Cardinal Sean O’Malley, head of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, did not comment on Francis’ statements or on the transfers. O’Malley, who is also raising funds for child protection programs, emphasized the role of media in bringing transparency to the Church’s work in a message to the commission after the AP story was published. “We will continue to monitor the situation and respond accordingly,” O’Malley said.

FAQ about Missionary Fundraising Corruption

More about Missionary Fundraising Corruption

• The Vatican’s official website (http://www.vatican.va/)
• The Pontifical Mission Societies official site (https://www.missio.org/)
• AP News (https://apnews.com/)
• Big Big News website, if such a website exists. (As of my training cut-off in September 2021, I can’t confirm the existence of a news outlet called “Big Big News.”)
• Catholic News Agency (https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/)
• The Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors’ site, if available.