Prefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See

Basic data
Surname	Prefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See ; (Praefectura Rerum Oeconomicarum Sanctae Sedis)
Seat	Palazzo della Congregazioni ; Largo del Colonnato, 3 ; SCV – 00193 Città del Vatican

The Prefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Apostolic See ( Latin Praefectura Rerum Oeconomicarum Sanctae Sedis ) was a dicastery , an authority of the Roman Curia and belonged to the papal offices together with the Apostolic Chamber and the administration of property of the Apostolic See . The prefecture was dissolved in 2016 and merged into the Economic Secretariat of the Holy See .

overview

The Prefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See was responsible for the management, coordination and administration of all economic and financial affairs of the Holy See. In addition to checking the asset and administrative budgets and the annual financial statements, the household budgets were also checked. The control of invoices, receipts and accounting processes was also a matter for the prefecture, as was the participation in the projects of individual administrations of the Holy See. It made the annual balance sheet for the general budget of the Holy See. In the event of violations, the prefecture was entitled to initiate state-of-the-art assessments of property damage vis-à-vis the Holy See and to initiate criminal or civil law measures.

The direction of this dicastery was always reserved for a cardinal . Other cardinals as well as a secretary and a chief accounting officer were at his side to accomplish his tasks.

The last secretary was Lucio Ángel Vallejo Balda since 2011 .

Pope Benedict XVI appointed the economist Thomas Hong-Soon Han as the first general auditor for economic matters in the Vatican in 2008 . With the newly created office, Hong-Soon Hang should guarantee economic activity in accordance with the church's social doctrine and, among other things, ensure that the church invests in human resources.

Pope Francis abolished the prefecture in 2016. The duties took over in 2014 established Secretariat for the Economy .