Fr Juan Antonio Guerrero Alves. Photo: Vatican News Vatican issues new regulations on public contracts
The Vatican’s Secretariat for the Economy issued last Tuesday a set of regulations related to new norms for awarding public contracts unveiled by Pope Francis last year.
The regulations are contained in a decree signed by Fr Juan Antonio Guerrero Alves, SJ, the Pontifical Delegate and prefect of the Secretariat for the Economy.
The decree, consisting of 49 articles, concerns the Pope’s apostolic letter, “Norms on transparency, control and competition in the procedures for awarding public contracts of the Holy See and Vatican City State”, dated May 19, 2020.
The apostolic letter, issued motu proprio (“on his own impulse”), outlined new procedures for awarding public contracts that aim to increase oversight and accountability, and ensure the Vatican and Holy See work only with vetted financial partners.
The decree says that the new regulations “apply to all purchases of services, supplies, and works”.
It states that “economic operators” under investigation for crimes are excluded “from participation in procedures for direct awarding of contracts and being registered in the list of authorised vendors”.
It rules that “subcontracting may be permitted to the maximum extent of 30% of the contract value”.
Vatican official urges end to violence in Mexico
During a trip to Mexico, the Vatican secretary of state called on Mexicans to overcome divisions and the violence afflicting the country – something he said he prayed for at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
Cardinal Pietro Parolin also said he shared those sentiments with President Andrés Manuel López Obrador during a breakfast meeting June 21.
“There, I could pray especially for peace and reconciliation in the world and in particular here in Mexico, so that with the help of God and the protection of the Morenita (Our Lady of Guadalupe) they can overcome the culture of division and violence and can install the true culture of fraternity and solidarity,” Cardinal Parolin said in Mexico City, prior to a reception at the nunciature and after a meeting with the president.
The comments wrapped up a five-day visit to Mexico, where Cardinal Parolin celebrated the episcopal ordination of the new apostolic nuncio to Papua New Guinea, Mexican Archbishop Fermín Sosa Rodríguez, and celebrated Mass at the Guadalupe basilica.
No details on the visit with President López Obrador were released by either side.
Oblate priest named secretary of child protection commission
Pope Francis has named Oblate Fr Andrew Small secretary pro tempore of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors.
Fr Small, 53, had served two terms as national director for the Pontifical Mission Societies in the United States, and his successor there was named in April.
The Vatican June 22 announced Fr Small’s appointment to the commission, which Pope Francis established in 2014.
The body of experts, with input from survivors, is meant to make proposals and spearhead initiatives to improve safeguarding norms and procedures throughout the Church.
Its work is separate from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith’s investigation and canonical prosecution of clerics accused of abuse.
Fr Small, who was born in Liverpool, England, but worked in the United States for many years and holds US citizenship, succeeds Msgr Robert Oliver, a priest of the archdiocese of Boston.
The commission is headed by Boston Cardinal Sean O’Malley, who is working with the Council of Cardinals to create a new structure, which includes establishing it as a new office within the Holy See.