CRISIS NOT FELT

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 7, 9 January 1932, Page 15

CRISIS NOT FELT

The in dependent 'state of Vatican City, wita a population of 500, an.'area of ICO acres, and ruled by Pope Pius XL, is alone among modern States not affected by the world economic crisis, although its income from many countries has been greatly reduced, according to Monsignor Bernardino Nogara, .head :of administration in Vatican City and Minister of the Treasury, writes David Darrah in the V Chicago- Tribune."

Twenty, million American Catholics have guaranteed the Pope each year whatever he ' needs . for current budgetary expenses. American and Canadian Catholics are the Vatican City's most generous contributors, M. Nogara said. He-estimated tho budget for the current year of Vatican City at 180,000,000 .'ltalian lire (9,360,000 dollars).

=;.M. Nogara explained ,how. this sum is' derived.- Part; of it comes from Catholics throughout; fhe" world! and part,is the income, on the -.indemnity fund. paid^ the',; Vatican by the Italian Government ■: uniler, ;the. Lateran Treaty... This indemnity' amounted to ■1,000,000,000 1ire'(52,000,000. dollars) in Italian Government consolidated stock, \vhich pays 5 per cent., and 750,000,000 lire (39,000,000 dollars) in cash, which the Vatican invested in Italian 31 per cent, bonds.

I Thug, the income of the Vatican from, this sonrce amounts to 76,250.000 lire (3,965,000 dollars). , Deducting from this M. Nogara's budget estimate of 180,000.000 lire (9,360,000 dollars), 103,750,000 lire (5,395,000 dollars) is left for contributions. These gifta are known in the Vatican as "Peter's Pence."

Pope Pius does nothing to encourage the Peter's Pence contributions, M. Nogara said, the funds being raised entirely by the initiative of Catholics. France pays no Peter's Pence, according. to M. Nogara, all contributions being retained in France and spent by the local churches.

The Spanish upper classes ana nobility formerly contributed 5,000,000

VATICAN CiTY'S FINANCE

lire (260,000 dollars) annually, .; butsince the recent trouble in Spain, this has ceased. .Mexico and South. .American Bepublics formerly, contributed conspicuous ; sums, M. Nogara. continued, but these have also ceased since political upheavals occurred.

"Howj much do American! Catholics give ?" M. Nogara 'was asked.

"I will reply ,in paraphrase," he said. "The Catholics of the United States are the best economic supporters of the Church. They have bound themselves to give his Holiness'not; a concrete jsum, but whatever figure the Pope holds necessary for his needs. American Catholics ■ also support numerous foundations and institutions throughout the world."

"You "don't'feel the crisis in the Vatican?" ho was asked.

"Not yet," was the reply."Perhaps in the future we shall But as the budget is dorived from, the. income -on the indemnity and as Peter's Pence is coming from all over tho world, wo are optimistic."

M. Nogara explained ..that the Vatican* finances are managed; economically. 'JJhe Swiss Guard is maintained at 125 men, although there is agitation to raise the force to 250. The'upkeep of the,' Vatican 'diplomatic' service in thirty-fivfl countries is : not a heavy budget-charge, ,M. Nogara said, as a provision for auneips is made locally in most of the countries.^ ' ' '

Pope Pius is .much interested, in! charitable and. building' activities, it• was explained; and this absorbs considerable of the Vatican'fmids/^ : !!

: Improvements and building' m- Vati-i can City* together with the repairing: of the cupola of Saint iPeter's, has cost 50,000,000 .lire. (2,600,000 dollars). : ' J When Pius became Pope, ■ 5000' parishes in Southern Italy. had no houses for their . parish priests. The pontiff since his .coronation,'has built 800 houses for curates 'in.'Sicily, and. 300 in Sardinia,.besides- repairing ;,and■•'! building seminaries andi- schools 'such as. the Gregorian, trniversity at. Borne, which has 1600 students?"