Can the Vatican still fund the missions?

The president of the Southern African bishops' conference noted this week Rome's "growing inability to provide financial assistance to areas like ours." What does this mean for mission territories?

Bishop Sithembele Sipuka, the president of the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SACBC), made a startling remark following the body’s ad limina visit to Rome.

The Palazzo di Propaganda Fide in Rome, Italy. Sheila1988 via Wikimedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).  

In a July 3 letter, the bishop said that the most important meeting of the June 12-17 visit was…