Pope instructs cardinals to pay rent at Vatican
Cardinals will no longer be able to live rent-free after Pope Francis ordered cost-cutting measures at the Vatican.
He has also subsidized rents for other senior Vatican officials, according to a note written by Maximino Caballero Ledo, who heads the Vatican’s Ministry of Finance.
Caballero Ledo’s note, known as the rescript, said the pope had decided that officials must “make an extraordinary sacrifice” to increase income streams and ensure that as much money as possible goes towards the church’s mission.
What are the new measures?
Cardinals living in Rome and the Vatican previously only had to pay for their public services. Bishops and other Vatican administrators currently pay subsidized rents.
Apartments owned by the Vatican would now be rented at the public rates applicable to tenants with no connection to the church.
Not the first seat belt tightening at the Vatican
Two years ago, Francis ordered the cardinals to take a 10% pay cut and cut the salaries of other clerics working at the Vatican to save staff jobs.
This decision was partly prompted by the impact of the coronavirus on the Holy See’s revenues.
Since assuming the papacy, Francis has made several changes to restructure the Vatican’s finances and make them more transparent.
His hand was also forced after a cardinal, and nine others were caught up in a London property scandal.
lo/ar (KNA, Reuters)
Source: DW
Lori Barajas is an accomplished journalist, known for her insightful and thought-provoking writing on economy. She currently works as a writer at 247 news reel. With a passion for understanding the economy, Lori’s writing delves deep into the financial issues that matter most, providing readers with a unique perspective on current events.