History and Values
The Permanent Observatory on Ecclesiastical Assets is the ripe fruit of more than 25 years of experience in managing and administering bodies connected to the aims of the Church, bodies belonging to the Church and providing advice to religious and ecclesiastical bodies. It was founded by Antonio Sanchez Fraga, an economist and graduate in Canon law with a master and specific training in the sector who wishes to show his gratitude for everything he received in his academic and professional career by providing the experience he has developed over the years to avoid the scandals we have seen in recent decades that were caused by a lack of knowledge, incompetence and a serious absence of collegiality in decision-making processes regarding these specific assets.
The Permanent Observatory on Ecclesiastical Assets stems from an awareness of the fact that an asset management strategy that successfully administers the Church’s resources facilitates, supports, helps and bolsters its mission of evangelisation. A suitable administration does not conflict with Pope Francis’s desire for a poor Church for the poor and indeed promotes assistance of the most needy by fighting the numerous forms of poverty existing in the world today.
The Permanent Observatory on Ecclesiastical Assets started its work at the end of 2019 but it was during the pandemic that its inspiring principles took form and became reality in September 2020 with the launching of its website and social media accounts and a first campaign of written communications. After the initial phase overseen by Mr Antonio Sanchez Fraga, there were subsequent contributions from Mr Luca Antonietti and Mrs Pamela Giusto who are currently part of the Observatory’s team. An important component was provided by Pikta studio that was actively involved in creating the logo and devising the communication strategy that enables visitors to remain up to date and constantly have their ears to the ground in terms of what is going on in the world.
We are a group of highly motivated people who feel a joint responsibility as lay believers to contribute to the spread of the mission. The team is open to collaborations, thereby responding to Pope Francis’s appeal to express oneself with a coherent Christian creativity that becomes a service initiative open to everyone.
