Pope Leo removes power from the Vatican Bank

WorldPolitics
7 Oct 2025 • 1:04 AM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

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  • Pope Leo XIV has reversed a 2022 law that had centralised the management of the Holy See’s assets exclusively with the Vatican bank, the Institute of Religious Works (IOR).
  • The new legislation allows the Holy See to utilise non-Vatican banks if deemed more efficient or convenient by its investment committee.
  • This move is seen as a clear indication that Leo is recalibrating power within the Vatican and correcting questionable financial reforms made by his predecessor, Pope Francis.
  • It follows another recent action where Leo removed Monsignor Roberto Campisi, an administrator close to Francis, from the Secretariat of State and reassigned him to Paris.
  • The announcement of the new law coincided with Pope Leo's meeting with the Knights of Columbus, a significant US Catholic charitable organisation and major donor to the Holy See.

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