The Supervisory and Financial Information and Authority (ASIF, by its Italian acronym), the body established by Pope Benedict XVI in 2010 to root out irregularities, received a total of 78 suspicious activity reports (SARs) within its financial system in 2025.
Of these reports, 73 were linked to accounts held at the Institute for the Works of Religion, known as the Vatican Bank – four originated from various entities of the Holy See and Vatican City State, while another belonged to an unspecified organization.
annual reportPresented on 30 April, it underlines the “strengthening” of its own monitoring system with regard to “preventing and fighting money laundering and terrorist financing”, according to the Vatican.
As part of its commitment to international standards in the area of ​​financial oversight, it has also “strengthened” relations with peer agencies and key international bodies, according to the report.
In 2024, the Vatican’s financial watchdog received 79 reports of suspicious activity, representing a 36% decrease compared to 2023, when 123 cases were identified.
Compared to the previous year, the report notes fewer incidents of communications related to the use of cash, a phenomenon that, according to the official statement, would be linked to a reduction in financial flows passing through the Vatican City State. In 2024, these inflows totaled 27,866,033 euros ($32.6 million), compared to 18,770,783 euros ($22 million) last year.
This trend is also reflected in the data related to declarations of cross-border cash transportation.
The report also indicates that financial transactions worth approximately 522,000 euros ($611,883) were suspended as a preventive measure in light of possible illegality, although the report does not specify the date or intended purpose of said amount.
Despite this, the qualitative level of communication received by ASIF remains stable, as evidenced by both the volume of exchanges with other authorities and the preventive measures adopted. Financial intelligence remains a key element in the conduct of subsequent investigative activities.
During 2025, ASIF sent 16 reports to the Office of the Justice Promoter, the body that carries out prosecutorial functions, a figure slightly higher than the previous year, when 11 cases were referred.
Internally, the report particularly highlights the strengthening of cooperation between the Holy See and Vatican City State authorities.
The flow of communications with key domestic counterparts saw a significant increase compared to the previous year, with incoming communications increasing by 65% ​​and outgoing communications increasing by 31% – a figure which, according to the document, reflects an increasingly integrated and cohesive system.
Similarly, international cooperation activities have been strengthened, with the participation of the Holy See in MONEYWELL, the Council of Europe’s body tasked with assessing systems for the prevention of money laundering and terrorist financing, among other forums.
The report concludes by highlighting the close and continuous cooperation with the Vatican Gendarmerie Corps, which has established itself as a central interlocutor in the operations carried out by ASIF.
this story was first published By ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language affiliate of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.
