Catholic World News News Feature

Pope Draws No Salary July 09, 2001

VATICAN, Jul 9, 01 (CWNews.com) -- Pope John Paul II does not know what his salary is-- if indeed he is paid-- his spokesman has revealed.

Last week, as he outlined the financial accounts for the Holy See during the 2000 fiscal year, Cardinal Sergio Sebastiani was taken off guard by a question about the Pope's salary. The cardinal said that he assumed the Pontiff received a salary, like every other cleric.

But in comment to the press on July 7, papal spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls said: "John Paul II is not aware of-- and never has been aware of-- any salary."

"The relevant agencies of the Holy See provide for the daily needs and activities of the Pope," Navarro-Valls explained. He added that money donated to the Pope is "devoted to the needs of the Church, respectful of the intentions of the donors."