” “The consolidated balance sheet of the Holy See for the financial year 2005 was closed with a credit of 9.7 million euros: a result that is "three times higher than last year’s" and "the most significant value in the last eight years". This was said by card. Sergio Sebastiani, president of the Prefecture of Economic Affairs of the Holy See, as he presented to the press the consolidated balance sheet for 2005. "Basically unchanged", said the cardinal, is the amount of donations from Bishops Conferences, dioceses, religious institutions, people and bodies, rising from 73.3 million euros in 2004 to 73.9 million euros. The rise in the cost of the whole sector (from 101.6 million euros in 2004 to 121.3 million euros) is due to the staff’s costs, in particular to "guarantee" the pension fund (which since January 1st 2004 has become am independent body) for the staff on duty and the staff that retired after January 1st 1993. "It is the most important conquest ever, not only in accounting terms, but above all in terms of transparency and the peace of mind of our staff", commented Sebastiani. "Very positive" is the financial statement of the Holy See, which in 2005 closed with a surplus of 43.3 million euros versus 6.1 of 2004; property is slightly lower (22.2 million euros versus about 24.9 million euros in 2004). ” ” ” “
