Vatican profit up in 2010 but donations down

The Vatican swung back to profit in 2010 after registering a loss in the previous three years, but donations fell 18 per cent in a year in which sexual abuse scandals dented the image of the Roman Catholic Church.

The Holy See said in a report its profit totalled 9.85 million euros ($14.3 million) in 2010, up from a loss of 4.1 million euros in 2009 and losses in 2008 and 2007.

The separately run state of the Vatican City reported a surplus of 21.04 million euros, boosted by growing numbers of visitors to the Vatican museums.

But donations from the faithful around the world, known as Peter's Pence, declined 18 per cent to $67.7 million from $82.5 million in 2009.

Pope Benedict made a strong apology to victims of sexual abuse by Catholic priests last year, seeking to come to grips with the scandal that shook the 1.1 billion member church.

Donations from dioceses to support the central structure of the church also fell to $27.4 million from $31.5 million in 2009, the report said.

Funding for religious activities from the Vatican Bank rose to 55 million euros, up from 50 million euros in 2009.