Vatican revives bonus tradition under new pope amid financial woes
Vatican employees received a bonus of €500 ($570) to celebrate the election of the new pope — this decision was made by Pope Leo XIV. The Ansa agency explained that the new pope restored the tradition of granting such awards after the conclave, which had previously been abolished by Pope Francis.
Vatican employees, many of whom are laypeople, received the bonus on Friday, on the eve of the audience where they are meeting with Leo XIV.
The pope will also receive dignitaries from the Roman Curia on Saturday.
The Vatican's financial system has been struggling with serious problems for years. Francis, the first Jesuit on the papal throne, encouraged the clergy to lead a modest life, but mere saving could not solve the Apostolic See's financial crisis.
The Vatican increasingly relied on museum ticket sales to finance the civil service, the worldwide network of embassies, and the Swiss Guard — a small army paid with Swiss Francs. The city-state serves seven million tourists annually and a global community of the faithful, without collecting taxes.
After more than a month of discussions, Francis decided on one solution: to ask the faithful for more money. On February 11, he signed a chirograph, or papal directive, aimed at increasing donations. Three days later, he was hospitalized with bilateral pneumonia. He passed away on April 21, leaving his successor, Leo XIV, with a similar economic problem that he himself had inherited.
Cardinal Michael Czerny, who oversaw Vatican humanitarian aid under Francis, admitted: "Those of us who live and work here are obviously all too aware" of the problem. The cardinals gathering to elect the pope received what he described as a "detailed report" on Vatican finances: "I am concerned because of the effects on our mission, our staff, our programs."
