Apostolic See

Even before the new policy was announced, Francis had stripped the secretariat of state of its ability to manage its own money and ordered the assets transferred to the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See.

In late 2017, Zanchetta left Oran to work in the Vatican’s Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See, a financial and accounting office that also manages church properties in Italy.

A new law enacted by the pope orders the secretariat of state, the diplomatic and administrative arm of the Holy See, to transfer all its financial holdings and real estate assets to another office, the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See, which administers the Vatican’s finances, by Feb. 4.

The law formalizes what the pope set in motion last August, in a letter to the secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, demanding the transfer of the secretariat’s assets to the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See.

"It is an activity that supports the most needy and ecclesial communities in difficulty who approach the Apostolic See for help."