ADMINISTRATION OF THE GOODS OF THE HOLY SEE. - After Sept. 20, 1870, the patrimony of the Holy See was reduced almost exclusively to the offerings with which the piety of the faithful of every part of the world intended to provide for the needs of the Holy See.
Since the pre-existing administrative organization, which was centered above all on the Rev. Apostolic Camera, therefore seemed excessive, and on the other hand impossible to maintain, the Supreme Pontiff Leo XIII, by chirograph of Aug. 9, 1878, appointed his Secretary of State, Card. Nina, prefect of the Sacred Apostolic Palaces and administrator of the property of the Holy See.
Subsequently, since the opportunity had been seen to separate the administration of the actual patrimony of the Holy See from that of the movable and immovable property constituting the Apostolic Palaces and their appurtenances, the Supreme Pontiff, by motu proprio Le disastrose condizioni, of Dec. 11, 1880, split the two offices, entrusting the administration of the patrimony of the Holy See to a cardinal administrator, assisted by a cardinalatial commission with consultative functions. By another motu proprio Le presenti luttuose circostanze, of the same date, the administration of the property belonging to the "Sovereign House of the Supreme Pontiff" was then assigned to the cardinal prefect of the Sacred Apostolic Palaces, in addition to the superintendence over all court services, over all works to be carried out in the buildings administered by him, and over the discipline of the persons residing in the pontifical properties.
By motu proprio of May 23, 1882, and of Apr. 30, 1891, various further norms were established on the organization and functioning of the cardinalatial commission for the a. of the property of the Holy See, among other things broadening its competences and making the Cardinal Secretary of State its president by right.
Finally, by motu proprio of Dec. 16, 1926, the Supreme Pontiff Pius XI further broadened the functions of this commission, gathering into its offices also the administrative offices of the Prefecture of the Sacred Apostolic Palaces and of the section of the Ecclesiastical Dicasteries. Pio Ciprotti