How does the Pope live financially?

How does the Pope live financially?

 How does the Pope live financially? A symbolic salary and covered expenses

A report by the British newspaper "Daily Mail" stated that the Pope, despite being the spiritual leader of more than a billion Catholics around the world, does not receive a traditional salary for his position.

The report explained that the Vatican City, the smallest independent state in the world, covers all of the Pope's needs, from housing and food to travel, healthcare, and security.

During his papacy, from 2013 to 2025, Pope Francis was known for his modest and simple lifestyle. He consistently refused to receive a personal income, emphasizing his commitment to the principles of simplicity and concern for the poor. Although some estimates indicate that the Pope may be eligible for a symbolic salary of approximately $2,800 per month, he has refrained from receiving any financial compensation.

Throughout history, popes have not received lavish salaries; rather, the Vatican covered all of their expenses, providing them with an all-expenses-paid lifestyle. Although the papal residence is the lavish Apostolic Palace, Pope Francis chose to reside in the simple Domus Sanctae Marthae, a guest house within the Vatican compound.

While the state provided him with access to official residences, a fleet of vehicles, and charitable funds, these resources were not used for personal purposes but rather were dedicated to his humanitarian mission. In this context, in 2023, Pope Francis donated $225,000 to inmates in a prison in the Italian capital, Rome, as a humanitarian gesture.