The Vatican owns 4,072 properties; 92 percent of them are in Rome, but they are also in France, Switzerland and Great Britain, according to the latest report by the Administration of the Patrimony of the Holy See (Apsa). These are primarily apartments and commercial premises in tenement houses, intended for rent, as well as garages , libraries, monasteries, catacombs and stables.
The report noted an overall decline in property holdings due to, among other things, growth energy prices.
Huge number of properties
As the Ansa agency notes, the times are passing when the so-called apartment in Vatican it was synonymous with absolute privilege. Apsa, by decision Pope Francisbegan to withdraw from free apartment rentalfrom providing excessively large premises for offices and turned to empty, abandoned properties in need of renovation or restructuring.
Most apartments in Vatican tenement houses in Rome are rented on market terms.
The total area of all properties is almost 1.5 million square meters. Outside Rome, they are located in Viterbo, Rieti, Frosinone, Padua, Assisi and in 20 other Italian provinces.
19 percent of premises are leased on market terms, and 12 percent on favorable terms. 69 percent is provided free of charge. In addition, it was noted that Apsa, to support traders who suffered losses as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the lack of pilgrims in Rome during the lockdown period, reduced their rent by introducing a discount of 30 to 50 percent.
Property tax
The report also states that in 2022, Apsa paid more than €6 million in property and company taxes to the Italian state.
The head of this office of the Holy See, Bishop Nunzio Galantino, stated: “The transparency of the figures, the results achieved and the procedures developed are the tools at our disposal to dispel unfounded suspicions about the property of the Church, its management and compliance with obligations such as the payment of taxes and other dues “.
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