Lateran Financial Convention (1929): text The pope's 58-year
boycott of Italy achieved its aim when Mussolini gave the
Vatican not only a country and a concordat, but also the huge
payment promised here. This has been used to fund a secret
property empire. The financial settlement was immensely greater
than the one previously proposed by the Law of Guarantees, which
wanted to grant an annual sum of 3,224,000 lire. With the new
agreement, Italy had to compensate the Holy See for the loss of
its states by paying 750 million lire in cash and 1 billion lire
in 5% negotiable government bonds.”  This payment has grown
through investments involving offshore companies with hidden
ties to the Vatican. It has funded a secret property empire now
worth more than €680 million ($905,000,000).  The Financial
Convention annexed to the Treaty [11 February 1929] The Holy See
and Italy having, in consequence of the stipulations of the
Treaty which has definitely composed “the Roman Question”, held
it necessary to regulate with