Vatican bank profits collapse after clean-up

The Vatican's secretive bank has reported a huge decline in profits and blocked thousands of accounts following an annus horribilis for the institution, marred by allegations of corruption and money laundering.

The bank, formally called Institute for Religious Works (IOR), said its net profit in 2013 fell to 2.9 million euros (£2.3m) from 86.6 million euros (£68.8) in 2012.

The decline in profits was mostly due to a 14.4 million euros loss attributed to what it described as a ''donation" of securities to a Holy See foundation, a series of write-downs and the fluctuation in the value of the bank's gold reserves.

"This is a time of major change in the Holy See, not only for the IOR," said Cardinal-Prefect George Pell. "With the support of the Holy Father and the Council of Cardinals, we are creating simpler, more efficient structures for those serving the mission of the Catholic Church."

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