The world’s smallest country has a big budget problem. The Vatican does not tax its residents or issue bonds.

It primarily finances the Catholic Church’s central government through donations that have been plunging, ticket sales for the Vatican Museums, as well as income from investments and an underperforming real estate portfolio.

The last year the Holy See published a consolidated budget, in 2022, it projected $878 million, with the bulk paying for embassies around the world and Vatican media operations. In recent years, it has not been able to cover costs.

That leaves Pope Leo XIV facing challenges to drum up the funds needed to pull his city-state out of the red.

WITHERING DONATIONS

Anyone can donate money to the Vatican, but the regular sources come in two main forms.

Canon law

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