Vatican Hit as Card Ban Leaves Sistine Chapel Visitors Cashless
This article is for subscribers only.
A suspension of electronic payments in the Vatican City is threatening finances in the world’s smallest state as thousands of pilgrims and tourists are forced to use cash only in museums and shops with yearly sales of more than $100 million.
Credit and debit card payments as well as cash withdrawals remained suspended in the papal state for a fourth day after the Bank of Italy refused a request by the operator, Deutsche Bank AG’s Italian unit, to keep providing the services. The central bank acted because the Vatican doesn’t comply with international money laundering rules, a Bank of Italy official said.