The answer is really very simple. I think that we’re making it more difficult than it is. The Vatican receives funds via several means: tourism, Peter’s Pence (a direct collection for the Vatican taken once a year; charitable donations; and a form of taxation of the wealthy dioceses around the world. This money is used to run Vatican City, which is a real country with real expenses. It even has a Prime Minister. The money also finances the Holy See. This means that it pays the salaries of all the priests, religious brothers, religious sisters, lay people and the Swiss Guards. These folks do not work for Vatican City. They work for the Holy See itself.
Both Vatican City and the Holy See are one of the most generous employers in the world. Lay people who work there receive a very competitive salary, health benefits, retirement benefits, vacation and sick leave and each time they have a child, they get an additional pay increase over and beyond the annual increase in their salaries. This was started by Pope John XXIII.
Aside from that, the Holy See keeps a certain amount of money in reserve for emergencies. For example, when the earthquake shattered Haiti, beside the assistance that was given by almost every diocese in the world, there was a large amount of money given by the Holy See itself.
Do priests live like kings? Priests come in two groups. There are secular priests. These men are ordained, but they are not consecrated religious. They make no vows. Therefore, they do not belong to a community. They are paid a salary for their services. That salary is paid by their employer: a parish, a school, hospital, chancery, university or the Vatican. The rule is that they are paid whatever is reasonable in their country for professionals at their level of education and according to the position that they hold, basically they are middle class. Obviously, a pastor will be paid more than an associate. They also pay taxes and their own Social Security. When they retire, they have to take care of themselves. The Church does not provide for them. They are secular men, just as most of you are. Like most of you, they have to make plans for their golden years. In addition, they don’t always get that much in cash. From that salary, certain things are deducted. If they live in a rectory, the cost of living in the rectory is taken into account. The parish is providing housing, food, utilities and home maintenance. Obviously, they don’t get as much cash at you would. However, whatever cash they get is theirs to keep. Those who do not have housing, such as many university professors and hospital chaplains, they have to pay rent somewhere. They get more cash.
About 40% of the priests in the Latin Church belong to a religious community. This means that they are monks, brothers, friars, or clerks regular. These men do not get paid. The employer and the religious superior agree on an amount. If a bishop says that parish X needs two priests. Parish X pays the religious community the salary of two priests and provides the housing for the two priests. However, since these priests are religious, they must live in community. What often happens is that the superior may assign more than two to the parish. He may even assign a brother and two priests. The income is still the same. The agreement was for two. The superior of the house must pull aside a certain amount that he must send to the motherhouse. That money is used to care for the older religious and for the education of those in formation. The rest of the money remains in the local house for the needs of the three men living there on two salaries. However, remember that those two salaries, not only support three guys, but part of it is sent to the motherhouse. In reality, the three guys are living on less than two salaries.
Apart from salaries and housing, the Vatican, dioceses, parishes, schools, and other Catholic institutions also pay mortgages like everyone else, utilities, maintenance, property insurance, licenses, etc. Then there are the many dioceses around the world, such as Haiti, which depend on other dioceses and the Vatican for financial subsidies. The people do not make enough money to support their parishes, schools and hospitals. A lot of special collections and private donations are channeled to these poorer dioceses around the world. Don’t think that Vatican City is cheap to operate. They do pay utilities, maintenance for their buildings, insurance policies. I can’t even imagine what it would cost to insure some of those art treasure or even if they can be insured. But they certainly have to be cared for and that costs millions of dollars. You don’t just let the Pieta sit in a corner without taking care of it. You don’t leave books and manuscripts that are a thousand years old or more, sitting on a library shelf. All those things need special care. Lastly, research costs millions of dollars. It’s supported with donations from the private sector.
As you can see, money goes in and money goes out. It does not sit under the pope’s mattress or in some priest’s bank account. Since most priests, bishops, and religious are honest people, we don’t get more than what we’re allowed to get. Each house is different. As I said, secular priests simply get a salary to take care of their expenses and provide for their future. By the way, the pope does not get a salary. He does not occupy the Papal Palace. He lives in an apartment in one section of the building. The rest is museum. The apartment is actually quite modest. It only has room for about six people. I believe that there are four people living in it. I think I read that somewhere. The pope can bring his own furniture from his home or he has to use what’s in storage. That’s less freedom that most people have.
Fraternally,
Br. JR, OSF
