The economist handpicked by Pope Francis to tackle the complexities of Vatican finances will visit Montreal Nov 12-13, 2015 to give select audiences a progress report.

Joseph Zahra-former head of Malta's Bank of Valletta and a former Director of the Central Bank of Malta, who was responsible for that country's introduction of the Euro - is a renowned economist who sits on numerous major corporate boards and regularly lectures around the world.

He is the Vice-Coordinator of the newly established Council for the Economy of the Holy See.

The Council, charged with financial oversight of all Vatican-related entities-including the Roman curia-is the most powerful of three new bodies created by Pope Francis to ensure accountability and transparency in the management of the Vatican's financial affairs.

Noting that the Vatican's financial reforms are also meant to provide dioceses around the world with a model they can themselves adopt, Zahra said that "what lies at the heart of Pope Francis' financial and administrative reorganization of the Vatican is his wish to ensure transparency, simplicity and the efficient use of resources."

These reforms, Zahra added, "are not an end in themselves, but are designed to free up assets to finance the Church's mission of evangelization-particularly programs that help the poor and the marginalized" with both pastoral and practical care.

Mr. Zahra-whose visit to Montreal is sponsored by CAPP-Canada, the Canadian arm of the Vatican foundation (Centesimus Annus Pro Pontifice), that promotes the implementation of the principles of Catholic social teaching-will be speaking in the Bishops' Atrium of Loyola High School, 2477 West Broadway, on Thursday, November 12, 2015, at 5:00 p.m.