The Vatican Bank has released its first Sustainability Report, outlining its progress on environmental, social and governance standards and its commitment to faith-aligned investment practices.
Jean-Baptiste Douville de Franssu, president of the Institute for the Works of Religion (IOR), said the report aims to provide a transparent account of how the bank applies Catholic principles to its financial activity. The document covers initiatives carried out during 2024.
The IOR said it has adopted a policy that excludes investment in companies linked to practices damaging to human life, the environment or society. The report states that environmental decline is a moral issue that affects human dignity and requires responsible action.
The Vatican bank stressed that care for the natural world cannot be separated from justice and the protection of life at every stage.
The sustainability report also lists internal measures taken in 2024. The IOR cut its office paper purchases by 20% compared with 2023. It said its electricity supply now comes from renewable sources and that upgrades to its offices, including LED lighting, have improved energy efficiency.
The bank said these steps mark the beginning of a longer process to align its operations with both modern sustainability standards and Catholic teaching.
