Pope Francis has decided to cut the salaries of the cardinals who work in the Vatican again. The renewed decision will take effect on 1 November.
According to the Italian ANSA news agency, layman Maximino Caballero Ledo, the prefect of the Secretariat for the Economy, informed the cardinals of the Holy Father’s decision in a letter dated 18 October, almost a month after another letter from Pope Francis on the subject.
Specifically, the cut in salaries or stipends will be in two areas: the “secretarial bonus” and the “office compensation,” two methods that were part of the monthly allowances and that will no longer be paid.
In his letter to the cardinals, Caballero also pointed out that there are “other measures, which are being studied by the competent bodies,” and that “will require the contribution of everyone.”
Caballero also indicated that he trusts that this measure “will be welcomed in the most authentic spirit of cooperation for the good of the Church.”
In a September letter, Pope Francis indicated to the cardinals that “further effort is needed, on the part of everyone, so that the ‘zero deficit’ is not just a theoretical objective but an achievable goal.”
According to the Spanish newspaper Europa Press, this cut in the cardinals’ salaries will allow them to “save 180,000 euros ($194,000) a year, a symbolic figure and a gesture that lays the groundwork for being able to ask other senior Vatican officials to make sacrifices.”
In March 2021, Pope Francis decided to reduce the salaries of cardinals serving in the Vatican by 10% to “safeguard current jobs” and guarantee “an economically sustainable future.”