With the Death of Pope Francisa new stage opens in the recent history of the Vaticanwhich revived questions about how the Holy Seeespecially economically. One of the most common doubts is: Does the Pope receive a salary? And what happens to the other members of the Vatican? How is the remuneration in the administrative heart of the Catholic Church organized?
The Pope has no salary
Although it holds the title of head of state of the Vatican and is the highest authority of the Church, The Pope does not perceive a salary. This reality responds to both tradition and the financial structure of the Holy See. The pontiffs, historically, had all their needs covered, eliminating the need for formal remuneration.
Since your choice in 2013, Francisco He maintained a life marked by austerity. He resigned to settle in the lavish apostolic palace and chose to live in the simplest Santa Marta house. Although it does not charge a salary, It has funds managed by the Holy See to meet both their personal needs and those derived from their pastoral work.
In the documentary Amen. Francisco answers, directed by Jordi Évole, the pontiff himself clarified this issue before the question of a young man: “They don’t pay me anything,” he said. “When I need money to buy shoes or something, I ask,” He added, making clear the unpaid character of his function.
The salary situation in the Vatican
Unlike Dadthe members of the administrative apparatus of the Vatican They do receive salaries. The Roman curia (the set of organisms that manage Church’s affairs) is composed of cardinals, bishops, priests and laity. Cardinals with important responsibilities can receive some 5,000 euros monthly. In the case of bishops and priests, monthly income is usually between 1,500 and 2,500 euros.
Lay employees who fulfill technical, administrative or security tasks have salaries comparable to those of the Italian official, oscillating among the 1,200 and 3,000 euros per monthdepending on the position and antiquity. In addition to the salary, many of them access benefits such as subsidized housing within the Vatican, medical care and reduced prices in stores and supermarkets of the Pontifical State.
Financing sources
The money held by the Vatican structure comes from various sources. One of the main ones is the Obolus of San Pedro, a global collection made by the faithful to support the charitable works of the Dad and the operational needs of the Vatican. To this are added income from tourism, sale of philatelic and numismatic items, donations and investment management.
In 2021, in response to the economic crisis aggravated by the pandemic of COVID-19 and the decrease in tourism, Francisco implemented a salary reduction for cardinals and senior officials of the Vaticanseeking to relieve the financial burden of the Holy See and reinforce an austerity policy.
Unlike some of their predecessors who arrived in the pontificate with personal fortunes, Francisco He was known for his simplicity since his years in Buenos Aireswhere he lived in an apartment and used public transport. Already like Dadmaintained that line, choosing a Ford Focus instead of luxurious vehicles for their displacements in Rome.
Source: Ambito
