Cardinals discuss pressing financial problems in the Vatican!

On April 30, 2025, the seventh General Congregation of Cardinals took place in the Vatican, attended by 180 cardinals, including 124 voters. The session began at 9 a.m. and covered fundamental topics such as the Vatican's economic challenges, ecclesiastical renewal, finances, and synodality and division within the Church, such as Vatican News reported.

Cardinal Reinhard Marx presented the economic situation of the Holy See and presented proposed solutions for a sustainable future. At the meeting, the current projects of the Dicastery for the Service of Charity were explained by Cardinal Konrad Krajewski and the status of the Vatican Financial Institute IOR was presented by Cardinal Christoph Schönborn. In addition, Cardinal Fernando Vérgez Alzaga informed about renovation work in the governorate of the Vatican City. A communiqué calling on all believers to share spiritual responsibility was published.

Important topics of discussion

A total of 14 requests to speak were made on central questions of church life. Among other things, the ecclesiology of the people of God, polarization within the church and society, and episcopal collegiality were discussed. Central council texts such as Lumen Gentium and Gaudium et Spes were also mentioned at the meeting. In addition, evangelization and the correspondence between lived faith and proclamation were discussed. The session ended at 12:30 p.m. with the common prayer of the Regina Coeli, while no further general congregations will take place on May 1st and May 4th. The eighth meeting is scheduled for May 2nd at 9 a.m.

At the same time, Pope Francis made an urgent appeal for austerity to the cardinals. In a letter to the College of Cardinals dated September 16 published on Friday, the Pope stressed the need to carefully manage limited economic resources and achieve zero deficits katholisch.de reported. The cardinals were asked to avoid unnecessary things and to set clear priorities.

The College of Cardinals consists of 236 cardinals. Of these, 123 are under 80 years old and eligible to vote. The Pope recalled that the cardinals had already called for economic reform in 2013. Last year, the Holy See recorded a budget deficit of over 80 million euros, with personnel costs being the largest expense. Despite income from donations, investments and the Vatican Bank, the funds to cover expenses remain insufficient.