Pope Leo XIV suspended on Monday (14) the measure that restricted the salaries of cardinals and superiors in the Vatican, which had been in effect since 2021. The decision reverses the salary policy established by Pope Francis during the covid-19 pandemic, when the Catholic Church faced a severe revenue decline.
The primary affected revenue source was the Vatican Museums, which were closed for an extended period during the pandemic. Pope Francis justified the measure at the time by mentioning the deficit that had characterized the Holy See's economic management for several years, which negatively impacted all revenue sources of the Holy See and Vatican City State.
With the original restriction, cardinals had their salaries reduced by 10%, while clerical or religious workers had reductions of up to 3%. The biennial adjustment, which was applied to all employees, was also cancelled during the measure's validity period.
Leo XIV stated that the salary containment measures were necessary at that time, but can now be overcome. He stated that the institutions of the Holy See and Vatican City State will continue working with different instruments to ensure their financial sustainability.
