This just came up in a conversation earlier today with some friends. Does anyone know if the Pope has a salary, and if so, how much does he make?
As long as you’ve brought it up mister_me, I wondered the same thing about the other officials of the church (cardinals, bishops, etc.). Do they have a salary, or are they supported by the church (although, if so, I’d imagine they would get a personal spending allowance)?
Zev Steinhardt
The Pope does not get any salary. Nor do cardinals or bishops get salaries, although it is up to the individual dioceses how much of a personal stipend they receive. Last time I talked to a priest about it, he said he got about $600 month for personal expenses.
BTW, most diocesean priests (and bishops) have not taken vows of poverty, and any money they earn from outside sources – such as writing books, teaching at a secular institution, or by inheritance – is theirs to keep. On the other hand, most priests who are members of religious orders (the Jesuits, the Franciscans, the Dominicans, etc.) have taken vows of poverty, and turn over any outside income to their orders.
Oh, my bad, I thought it said “Does the Pope get laid?” My mistake.
Are you guys sure about that? (No. I’m not gonna yell ‘Cite! Cite!’)
As far as my personal knowledge goes, catholic priests (i. e. my uncle) do get paid (at least in Germany). They have a fixed salary based on their rank in the church, like civil servants.
That has to depend on the brand of church, then. The Anglican and Lutheran ministers I’ve known definitely get a salary (I heard CDN$ 24,000 for a rookie freshly ordained; not sure about the old fogies with seniority 
), but this is supplemented by free housing. I’m not sure if this is merely tradition or if the church pays less property tax, making this advantageous for all parties. I guess ``traditionally’’ the vicarage would be on the same property as the church, so that land would already be owned by the church, and therefore cheaper for them to give to the minister than enough cash to rent his/ her own place…
Are you sure that Jesuits take vows of poverty? I thought that they did not.
Yes, Jesuits take a vow of poverty, as well as vows of chastity and obedience.
Famous Jesuits:
Gerard Manley Hopkins, the poet and founder of the romantic movement in English Poetry.
Daniel Berrigan, social activist.
Famous Jesuit seminarian: Jerry Brown.
It would be different, viking, for many Protestant Ministers (as well as Rabbis and Imams), as in many cases these are hired and fired by the congregation, rather than assigned by a central hierarchy.
BTW, this is one of the “practical” concerns behind sustaining the rule of celibacy – that the Church would have to radically increase pay and allowances to support the families.
Having just gone through the budgeting process at our (Episcopal) church, I can say that clergy in our denomination receive salaries as well as other traditional benefits (medical, dental, etc.) The Vestry (board of elders, sort of) is responsible for the parish budget and determines the amount that the staff and clergy are paid, and the level of benefits, subject to guidelines from the diocese and national church.
The salary level depends on a number of factors, just like in other occupations: the size of the congregation, the local market, the experience of the preist. A preist may also have use of a rectory (free housing) or a housing allowance.
I’m fairly certain that ordained clergy also enjoy certain tax breaks – at least I know this is (or has been) true in Canada, where my father-in-law was a Presbyterian minister.
Besides, if he did get paid, who’d sign his time sheet?
Ethilrist : very clever, thank you.
No pay, but the retirement benefits are out of this world!