Pope Francis' Net Worth: How Much Money Does The Pope Really Make?
Pope Francis — aka Jorge Mario Bergoglio — may be one of the most powerful people in the world as head of the Catholic Church, but that doesn't necessarily mean he is the richest. His Holiness has been highly regarded for his efforts to speak out about climate change, religious intolerance, LGBTQ rights, and sexual abuse in the Catholic Church, according to Discovery, which the network hopes to showcase in their new documentary FRANCESCO. Set to release via discovery+ on March 28, 2021, the documentary will give an "unprecedented look at the man behind the cloth," according to the network. "Humanity is experiencing a crisis that is not economic or financial," Pope Francis said in the trailer for the documentary. "It's ecological, educational, moral [and] human."
For those who don't know already, Pope Francis took on his role in 2013 following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI. It's not so surprising Francis ended up in the impressive role, as he believes in the power of positive thinking. "Many of us, nowadays, seem to believe that a happy future is something impossible to achieve," he said in a 2013 Ted Talk, per TIME. "While such concerns must be taken very seriously, they are not invincible."
So what do we know about Pope Francis' financial life? We reveal our findings below
Pope Francis' net worth
The Vatican is valued at a whopping 4 billion euros, per Reuters. But what about Pope Francis' bank account? Although the pope's true net worth isn't clear, we do have a little insight into his earnings — or lack thereof.
Following Pope Benedict's departure from the role in 2013, his retirement pension was reported to be about $3,300 a month, per CNBC, so we can only assume Pope Francis' retirement will be comparable. But aside from the pension that awaits him once his stint as the head of the Catholic Church ends, the pope "does not and has never received a salary," the Vatican shared in 2001, per The Irish Times.
Although there are discrepancies about the number of zeros to his name, the figure probably doesn't matter to the religious leader since he chooses to live a modest lifestyle. "Francis seems uninterested in spending, a radically different approach from most of his predecessors," Bloomberg reported, citing how he chooses to live in a three-room dorm instead of the lavish digs of his predecessors. "He isn't anti-capitalist, but he emphasizes mindfulness in spending, whether personal or corporate."