How Does the Pope Get Paid?

The Vatican doesn’t disclose any financial payments it makes to popes, so how much they might be paid is left to speculation. What’s clear is that while the pope doesn’t earn a salary in a traditional sense, he is paid a modest monthly stipend and has all of his living expenses paid by the Vatican.

A Vow of Poverty?

While being pope is obviously a demanding, high-profile job, drawing a large salary for serving as a spiritual guide for the world’s Catholics would certainly raise many eyebrows. In fact, it’s natural to wonder whether the pope, as many monastics do, might take a vow of poverty.

Not all Catholic clergy take vows of poverty but Pope Leo XIV, when he was known as Robert Prevost, signed a strict vow of poverty in his 20s when he entered the Order of St. Augustine. He handed over everything he owned at the time to the Order, which also collects any salaries earned by its members.

As a Jesuit, Pope Francis also adhered to a vow of poverty, making him the first pope to live under a vow of poverty since the mid-1800s. Francis reportedly refused any personal income during his time as pope from 2013-2025 and won respect for his frugal, humble lifestyle. He also chose not to live in the Apostolic Palace, traditionally the pope’s residence, choosing instead the more modest Casa Santa Marta, a Vatican guesthouse.

Monthly Stipend

The Vatican, which is facing a financial crisis, does not disclose how much of a stipend it pays the pope. Some sources say it is $2,814 a month. In any case, it’s not clear what Pope Leo, who became first American to lead the Catholic Church in May 2025, will do with that stipend. He is expected to move into the Apostolic Palace.

(Daniel Rober, a professor of Catholic studies at Sacred Heart University, is reported to have said that the pope is paid a total salary of about 30,00 euros ($34,000) a month, which works out to about $400,000 a year— the same amount the U.S. president earns.)

All Expenses Paid

The pope also isn’t expected to pay for anything. They are provided a residence at the Apostolic Palace at Vatican City, while other expenses, including food, transportation, and health care, are also covered by the Vatican. When someone asked Pope Francis about his paycheck, he responded: “When I need money to buy shoes or something, I ask for it.”

The Bottom Line

High-profile jobs generally pay big salaries. But of course serving as pope is not an ordinary job. Popes are selected for qualities such as spiritual leadership, humility, and self-sacrifice—and some have literally taken a vow of poverty. So perhaps it’s fitting that the pope doesn’t earn the salary of a CEO.