The Aporia · Pope restores Vatican salaries cut during Covid-19

Pope restores Vatican salaries cut during Covid-19

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The Straits Times. (2026, September 14). Pope restores Vatican salaries cut during Covid-19. The Straits Times. https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/pope-restores-vatican-salaries-cut-during-covid-19

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Quick Summary

Pope Leo has reversed salary cuts for cardinals and senior Vatican officials, restoring their pay to pre-Covid levels as of September 1. Pope Francis had reduced salaries by 10% for cardinals and 8% for other high-ranking officials in 2021 due to financial pressures from the pandemic. The decision comes on the heels of improved finances at the Holy See, with the Vatican bank reporting a net profit of €51 million last year. Pope Leo also cancelled plans by his predecessor to move some Vatican archives outside the city-state and instead ordered the construction of a new building within its walls.

Written by AI on 2026-09-15, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

AI analysis

Story summary

In September 2023, Pope Francis's successor restored the salaries of cardinals and senior Vatican officials to pre-Covid levels, reversing cuts made in 2021. During the pandemic, Francis had reduced cardinals' pay by 10 percent and Vatican officials' by 8 percent to alleviate financial pressures on the Holy See, which has long struggled with budget deficits. The decision, announced on Pope Leo's 71st birthday on September 14, stated that while these measures were necessary during the pandemic, they are no longer needed as the Vatican’s finances have shown signs of improvement. However, the decree emphasizes ongoing efforts to ensure economic sustainability for Vatican institutions and clarifies that the salary adjustments will not be retroactive. A typical cardinal's monthly income in the Roman Curia, the Catholic Church’s central administration, ranges from 4,500 to 5,000 euros ($6,600).

Written for “Vatican Restores Salaries” on 2026-10-31, grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.

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Claims extracted

sentences that state something as happening or true

Uncertain

30%

3 of 10 hedged ("reportedly", "may", "according to")

Leaning

not political

takes no side on a contested political question

Publisher signals

66/100

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The Straits Times · 4070 article(s) · 5 correction(s) detected

Running correction rate · 5 correction(s)

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Topics

AFP VATICAN CITY the Catholic Church’s the Holy See’s the Roman Curia

Subjects

Francis PERSON · 2× Leo PERSON · 2× the Holy See’s ORG · 2× AFP ORG · 1× VATICAN CITY GPE · 1× the Catholic Church’s ORG · 1× the Roman Curia ORG · 1×

Narrative

In 2021, Pope Francis cut the salaries of cardinals by 10 per cent and those of senior Vatican officials by eight per cent to ease pressure on the Holy See’s finances during the Covid-19 crisis and amid chronic budget deficits.

framing: mixed · carried by 1 article(s) · first seen 2026-09-15

🔮 The pay cuts, which had been “necessary to face the exceptional challenge of the pandemic”, could now be lifted, the Pope said, adding that Vatican institutions would continue efforts to ensure their “economic sustainability”.

2026-09-15 · The Straits Times

Pope restores Vatican salaries cut during Covid-19 · mixed framing

Claims (10 extracted, 3 hedged)

Pope restores Vatican salaries cut during Covid-19 VATICAN CITY – Pope Leo has restored the salaries of cardinals and senior Vatican officials to pre-Covid levels, reversing pay cuts introduced by his predecessor Francis during the pandemic, according to a decree published on Sept 14. uncertain

Leo → restore → Sept

Francis → cut → deficits

In a papal decree issued on Sept 14, his 71st birthday, the US pontiff said the measure was abolished from Sept 1. asserted

measure → issue → Sept

The pay cuts, which had been “necessary to face the exceptional challenge of the pandemic”, could now be lifted, the Pope said, adding that Vatican institutions would continue efforts to ensure their “economic sustainability”. uncertain

institutions → face → sustainability

The decree said the decision would not be applied retroactively. asserted

decision → say → ?

A cardinal working in the Roman Curia, the Catholic Church’s central administration, is estimated to earn between 4,500 euros (S$6,600) and 5,000 euros a month. asserted

cardinal → work → euros

The Holy See’s finances are showing signs of improvement. asserted

finances → show → improvement

In its annual report published in May, the Vatican bank reported net profit of 51 million euros. uncertain

bank → publish → euros

In a separate decree released on Sept 14, Leo cancelled a plan by the last pope to transfer some of the Vatican archives outside of the tiny city state. asserted

Leo → release → state

It said a new building would be erected in the Vatican. asserted

building → say → Vatican