No other institution in world history has mastered the accumulation of money and wealth like the Church. At the same time, it conceals its income and assets. Even the scandals surrounding the Vatican Bank and Bishop Franz-Peter Tebartz-van Elst of Limburg have not led to the Vatican and its dioceses becoming significantly more transparent in financial and asset matters today. Despite all the scandals, the global Church prefers to keep to itself the extent of its financial, investment, and real estate holdings and how wealthy it truly is, even after 2000 years. What is clear is that the global Church is swimming in money. Over centuries, it has amassed a substantial wealth of money, investments, and real estate. In several countries, it is even the largest land and property owner through its works, sponsorships, and organizations, which is of course significant.