How the pope gets paid and a look at the Vatican’s finances

Leader Roman Catholic Church It is not paid for what many consider to be a traditional salary. Instead, the Vatican provides the needs of pontiphs, from accommodation, food, transportation and other costs in the form of scholarships and fees.

Vatican, Called “The smallest country in the world” maintains “an economy that relies on a combination of donations, private companies and investment for revenue,” According to Investopedia.

Pope Francis rejected any salary when he took his duty in 2013, Reported economic times Back in February, adding that PontiF had a net value of “about $ 16 million at the time, which includes various assets provided to him as a pope.”

The Vatican’s financial situation has been in danger for years, and the annual operational deficit has increased to over $ 90 million in 2023, according to reports. In November, Pope Francis warned that the Vatican pension fund – which pensions to the employees of the Holy See and the Vatican State – is confronted with a “serious promising imbalance” that “grows over time with time in the absence of interventions,” Vatican news.

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This photo shows tourist goods, including postcards (R) on the stands, with the Basilic of St. Peter Vatican in the background, in Rome 5 May 2025. (Gabriel Bouys/AFP)

The administrative body of the Vatican, also known as Holy See, does not give accurate numbers regarding its finances. However, the World Central Intelligence Bookstore has estimated its revenues and expenditures in 2013, recorded $ 315 million, or $ 348 million.

That money generates through different avenues. According to the Michigan Journal of Economics, Sveta Sce makes part of his revenue via Petro’s Pence, which is a term that describes donations collected from Catholics around the world and give the pope on an annual basis. This is made up of $ 27 million every year, with the biggest contributions to the United States, Germany and Italy, according to an American magazine.

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The fertile beads depicting Pope Francis were offered for one euro on March 17, 2025 in the Vatican, the Vatican. (Christopher Furlong)

The young visitor of the Catholic Church Service donates money to a basket she handed over to Bavaria, Kaufbeuren in July 2019. (Karl-Josef Hildenbrand/Picture Alliance)

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Fox News Digital addressed the conference of the Catholic bishops of the Vatican and the United States for more information about how the Pope receives a salary, but did not immediately answer.