Pope Leo XIV restores free and subsidized Vatican housing for senior officials

Pope Leo XIV has quietly reversed a housing policy introduced under his predecessor, restoring free and subsidized Vatican apartments for senior curial officials and cardinals. The decision, made on February 1, marks a significant shift in internal Vatican administration and signals a move toward easing practical pressures that had affected governance and recruitment within the Roman Curia.

The policy being overturned was enacted in 2023 under Pope Francis as part of broader austerity measures aimed at addressing the Holy See’s financial strain. It ended a long standing tradition under which senior Vatican officials received free or low cost housing, instead requiring many to pay rent or assume new housing expenses. Francis described the move at the time as a necessary sacrifice in service of the Church’s mission during difficult economic conditions.

While well intentioned, Vatican sources say the policy created unintended consequences. Because Vatican salaries are relatively modest compared with living costs in Rome, some qualified candidates reportedly declined appointments to senior positions after learning they would need to cover market rate rent. In other cases, dicasteries struggled to fill key roles, raising concerns about the effectiveness and continuity of Church governance.

Officials also noted that the policy was applied unevenly. It primarily affected those appointed after the decree took effect, while others already living in Vatican apartments retained their benefits. The rule included provisions allowing the Pope to grant exceptions based on factors such as years of service, nationality and personal circumstances, but insiders say the system proved complex and difficult to manage.

Ironically, one of those affected by the policy was Cardinal Robert Prevost, appointed prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops in March 2023 and later elected pope as Pope Leo XIV. His experience is often cited by Vatican observers as an example of how the housing rules complicated appointments and generated internal dissatisfaction.

The housing issue became a public symbol of deeper tensions during the later years of Francis’ pontificate. In late 2023, Cardinal Raymond Burke was told to vacate his Vatican apartment or begin paying market rent, a decision widely interpreted as disciplinary. Francis later indicated that the move was connected to what he viewed as actions harmful to Church unity, further intensifying debate over governance style and internal discipline.

By rescinding the policy, Pope Leo XIV has restored the traditional system in which housing benefits offset the comparatively low salaries of curial officials. Cardinals typically earn around 4,500 euros per month, while rental prices for comparable apartments near the Vatican often exceed 3,000 euros. Many inside the Curia have long argued that housing support is not a privilege but a practical necessity.

The reversal was not formally announced by the Holy See, but was first reported by Italian media and later confirmed by multiple Vatican sources. According to officials, the previous requirements for additional housing payments are no longer being enforced.

For many within the Vatican, the decision has brought a sense of quiet relief. Beyond its financial implications, the move is widely interpreted as an early sign of Pope Leo XIV’s intention to stabilize internal administration and ease lingering strains inherited from the previous pontificate, while maintaining focus on effective governance and service to the universal Church.