Vatican Bank Launches Catholic-Themed Equity Indexes

New benchmarks aim to serve as a reference for values-based investing.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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The Vatican Bank has launched two new equity indexes, the Morningstar IOR Eurozone Catholic Principles and the Morningstar IOR US Catholic Principles, that select investments based on Catholic principles. The indexes are designed to serve as a reference for Catholic investors worldwide and join a growing field of ESG-focused funds.

Why it matters

The launch of these Catholic-themed indexes reflects the increasing demand from investors for benchmarks that align with specific values and beliefs. As the largest religious group in the U.S., Catholics represent a significant market for values-based investing products.

The details

Each index includes 50 medium- and large-cap companies that align with the Vatican's approach to ethical Catholic investing. The indexes were developed in partnership with Morningstar, a leading financial services firm that offers a range of thematic indexes. While the specific criteria used to select the companies in the indexes is not yet known, the indexes are said to be composed largely of tech and financial stocks, including Meta and Amazon.com.

  • The Vatican Bank launched the new indexes on February 10, 2026.

The players

Institute for the Works of Religion (IOR)

The formal name for the Vatican's primary financial institution, which is launching the new Catholic-themed equity indexes.

Morningstar

A Chicago-based financial services firm that is partnering with the Vatican Bank to develop the new indexes.

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What they’re saying

“Investors increasingly seek benchmarks that reflect specific values-based or policy-driven criteria.”

— Robert Edwards, Managing Director of Indexes and EMEA at Morningstar (IOR's statement)

The takeaway

The launch of these Catholic-themed equity indexes by the Vatican Bank highlights the growing demand for values-based investing products that cater to specific religious or ethical beliefs. As the largest religious group in the U.S., Catholic investors represent a significant market for these types of investment offerings.