Pope Francis has ordered the reduction of 10 percent of the salaries of cardinals, 8% of heads and secretaries of dicasteries (the Vatican ministries) and 3% of religious, while maintaining the payroll of the laity, given the economic situation that is being towed by the state.
It is about “taking measures to control costs for the personnel of the Holy See, the Vatican City Governorate and other related organizations” with a Motu proprio, a document signed by the Pope, published today.
The Pope explains that “due to the health emergency caused by the spread of Covid-19, which negatively impacted all sources of income for the Holy See and Vatican City,” he has made the decision to cut salaries to, above all guarantee all jobs.
Therefore, from April 1, the remuneration of cardinals who work in the Holy See will be reduced by 10 percent compared to the last salary paid, while the reduction will be 8 percent in the case of those they hold the position of superiors and by 3 percent. ecclesiastical and religious.
Also in the period between April 1, 2021 and March 31, 2023, the accrual of two-year seniority increases will be suspended, except for lay people from the first to the third level of the ladder, i.e. the lower salaries.
These provisions, in addition to all workers of the curia, the Governatorato (the government of the Vatican City) and other related entities, also apply to the Vicariate of Rome, to the papal basilicas of St. Peter in the Vatican, of St. de Letrán and Santa María la Mayor, as well as the San Pedro Factory and the Basilica of San Pablo outside the walls.
The recent budget of the Holy See approved for 2021 will be the most restrictive in recent history of the Holy See and nevertheless a debt of nearly 50 million is expected.
The Prefect of the Secretariat for the Economy, the Vatican Finance Minister, Juan Antonio Guerrero Alves, recently explained that a major wages has been a priority. “
If in 2019 revenues were 307 million euros, that will be 30 percent less this year, 213 million euros, he pointed out, while the data for 2020 is still waiting.