PART 23: Antichrists Revealed by Jesus Christ – The Secret Finances of the Vatican Economy

Attilio Nicora (16 March 1937 – 22 April 2017) was an Italian prelate of the Catholic Church who held senior positions in the administration of the Roman Curia as president of the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See from 2002 to 2011 and president of the four-person Executive Board of the Financial Information Authority (FIA) from 2011 to 2014. He was bishop of Verona from 1992 to 1997. He was given the personal title of archbishop in 2002 and was made a cardinal in 2003.

Institute for the Works of Religion

The Institute for the Works of Religion(Italian: Istituto per le Opere di Religione; Latin: Institutum pro Operibus Religionis; abbreviated IOR), commonly known as the Vatican Bank, is a financial institution that is situated inside Vatican City and run by a Board of Superintendence, which reports to a Commission of Cardinals and the Pope. It is not a private bank, as there are no owners or shareholders; it has been established in the form of a juridical canonical foundation, pursuant to its statutes. Since 9 July 2014, its president is Jean-Baptiste de Franssu. The IOR is regulated by the Vatican’s financial supervisory body ASIF(Autorità di Supervisione e Informazione Finanziaria).

The Institute was founded in June 1942 by papal decree of Pope Pius XII. In June 2012, the IOR gave a first presentation of its operations. In July 2013, the Institute launched its own website. On 1 October 2013, it also published its first-ever annual report.

On 24 June 2013, Pope Francis created a special investigative Pontifical Commission(CRIOR) to study IOR reform. On 7 April 2014, Pope Francis approved respective recommendations on the IOR’s future which were jointly developed by the CRIOR and COSEA commissions and the IOR’s management. “The IOR will continue to serve with prudence and provide specialized financial services to the Catholic Church worldwide”, as the Vatican release stated. On 7 April 2014, Pope Francis approved a proposal on the Institute’s future, “reaffirming the importance of the IOR’s mission for the good of the Catholic Church, the Holy See and the Vatican City State

The Catholic Church

The Catholic Church (also known as the Roman Catholic Church) is the largest Christian church worldwide, with 1.28 to 1.39 billion baptized Catholics as of 2024.

Key Facts

• Among the world’s oldest and largest international institutions
• Played a prominent role in Western civilization’s history and development
• Consists of 24 sui iuris churches:

• Latin Church
• 23 Eastern Catholic Churches
  • Comprises almost 3,500 dioceses and eparchies worldwide

Leadership Structure

• The Pope: Bishop of Rome and chief pastor of the church
• Diocese of Rome (Holy See): Central governing authority
• Roman Curia: Administrative body with principal offices in Vatican City
• Vatican City: Small, independent city-state where the pope serves as head of state and absolute elective monarch

Core Beliefs

• Found in the Nicene Creed
• Claims to be the one, holy, catholic and apostolic church founded by Jesus Christ
• Bishops are successors of Christ’s apostles
• Pope is successor to Saint Peter
• Practices original Christian faith through:

• Scripture
• Sacred tradition
• Magisterium of the church

Worship and Sacraments

• Seven sacraments with the Eucharist as the principal one
• Celebrated liturgically in the Mass
• Bread and wine become the body and blood of Christ through consecration
• Virgin Mary venerated as:

• Perpetual Virgin
• Mother of God
• Queen of Heaven

Social Services

• Operates tens of thousands of:

• Catholic schools, universities and colleges
• Hospitals
• Orphanages
  • Largest non-government provider of education and health care worldwide
  • Numerous charitable and humanitarian organizations
  • Emphasizes support for the sick, poor, and afflicted