Pope Francis yesterday revolutionised the Vatican’s scandal-plagued finances, inviting outside experts into a world often seen as murky and secretive and saying the Church must use its wealth to help the poor.

Pope Francis, elected nearly a year ago with a mandate for reform, used a document known as a Motu Proprio – Latin for “by his own initiative” – to imple-ment immediate changes, including appointing an auditor-general.

The document says the Church must see its possessions and financial assets in the “light of its mission to evangelise, with particular concern for the most needy”.

A new Secretariat for the Economy will report directly to the Pope and will be headed by Australian Cardinal George Pell, 72, currently the Archbishop of Sydney and a key proponent of financial transparency in a committee that advised the Pope. A Church source said Pell would move to Rome.

The auditor-general will have wide oversight powers “to conduct audits of any agency of the Holy See and Vatican City State at any time,” a statement said.

The Secretariat, effectively a new ministry, will be headed by Pell and guided in policy making by a new 15-member Council for the Economy made up of eight prelates and seven lay financial experts “with strong professional financial experience” from around the world, according to the statement.

The Motu Proprio’s title is “Faithful and Prudent Administrator”.