The Pope Raises Curia Salaries by Reversing COVID-19 Pay Cuts

The wage restraint measures adopted by Pope Francis with the Apostolic Letter «A Sustainable Future,» March 23, 2021, which were necessary to address the challenges posed by the pandemic, have been repealed by another Apostolic Letter, dated September 1, by Pope Leo XIV.

Consequently, the salaries of cardinals, heads and secretaries of Vatican dicasteries, as well as clergy and religious, in the same proportions as the reductions. In summary, a 10 percent reduction for cardinals, an 8 percent reduction for other superiors, and a 3 percent reduction for clergy and religious.

Commitment to Ensuring Economic Sustainability

The Pope adds in his Motu Proprio that the measures have already been partially amended, through the repeal of Article 3, with the Rescriptum ex Audientia dated June 16, 2025. And he is “certain that the institutions of the Holy See and the Vatican City State will continue, through various means, to fulfill their commitment to ensuring economic sustainability.”.

The decision was made by the Holy Father after consulting with the Ministry of Economy and “carefully examining everything.” The Pontiff is repealing the rule, although he is not eliminating the provisions that were in effect while the law was in force, including the freeze on biennial seniority raises.

Ministry of Economy

For this reason, “the expert opinion of the Secretariat of Economy”—whose Prefect is the Spanish layman Maximino Caballero—“was sought after carefully examining everything.”.

This measure is established without prejudice to the effects that occurred during its period of validity, including the effects resulting from the suspension of the accumulation of biennial seniority increases referred to in Article 5, which remains definitively acquired.

Pope Francis' Restrictions Lifted 

The restrictions adopted by Pope Francis were stringent and were due, in particular, to the consequences of the pandemic. The pandemic had exacerbated “the deficit that has characterized the Holy See’s economic management for several years, which has negatively impacted all sources of revenue for the Holy See and the Vatican City State,” as stated in the 2021 Motu Proprio ‘A Sustainable Future.’.

Pope Francis also made a appeal to review spending in order to avoid even more drastic measures, such as the layoff of lay employees who are parents, as reported by the Vatican news agency.