Pope Francis: Lifestyle, luxury & Assets

Pope Francis, the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City, passed away on 21 April 2025. His net worth is assumed to be high but less than that of recent popes. 

After refusing his salary, Pope Francis has a net worth of $16 million. However, his net worth is not based on personal use but on assets and benefits of the position.  

Let us look at the properties at his disposal that contribute to his net worth, which are part of his institutional privileges.  

Pope Francis uses five cars depending on the location and preferences. He has primarily been seen at public occasions in the following models: 

The most recent addition to PopeMobile is designed to be eco-friendly and is for greeting pilgrims in St. Peter's.  

A long model tied to the history of the papacy has been a popular choice for the popemobile.  

Pope used this model in the United States in 2015. 

A Kia Soul, a popemobile, was used during his visit to South Korea in 2014.  

He used vehicles like the Isuzu D-Max in the Philippines, the Dacia Duster in Romania, the Pindad Maung MV3 Tangguh in Indonesia, and the Hyundai Ioniq in Singapore.  

The Apostolic Palace in Vatican City uses this traditional residence for official work and ceremonies. He shifted to a more humble residence at Domus Sanctae Marthae.  

Pope travelled on a chartered aircraft for that occasion, unlike many world leaders. He usually travels on ITA aircraft based on the trip's request for papal travels.  

Since joining as the 266th Pope in 2013, he has refused to take his salary and has donated the amount to a foundation, trust, or his relatives. He stood by his commitment to modest and simple living.  

The Vatican Catholic Church holds $35 billion in international assets from investments and offerings. Despite this wealth, the Pope lives modestly and advocates for financial transparency for justice and service. 

Pope Francis, spiritual leader of more than 1.3 billion Catholics, was characterised by humility, reforms in a progressive direction, and adherence to social justice, avoiding personal comforts and financial rewards.