Religion

Pope warns Vatican missionaries over financial corruption

Pope Francis tells Vatican mission societies that if spirituality is not driving the Catholic Church’s missionary efforts, there is a risk of corruption

  • June 3, 2023
Pope Francis: ‘If spirituality is lacking and it’s only a matter of entrepreneurship, corruption comes in immediately.’ Picture: Getty

Pope Francis has warned the Vatican’s missionary fundraisers not to allow financial corruption to creep into their work, insisting that spirituality and spreading the Gospel must drive their operations, not mere entrepreneurship.

Francis made the comments in a speech to the national directors of the Vatican’s Pontifical Mission Societies, which raise money for the Catholic Church’s missionary work in the developing world, building churches and funding training programmes for priests and nuns.

Deviating from his ...