Pope Francis cracks down on finances linked to creating saints

The rules require external vigilance over individual Vatican bank accounts created for beatification and canonization causes, as well as regular budgeting and accounting to make sure the donations from the faithful are being used as intended.

The books estimated the average cost for each beatification at around $550,000, with much of the proceeds going to a few lucky people with contracts to do the often time-consuming investigations into the candidates’ lives.