The Catholic Church is often associated with vows of poverty and simplicity. But the financial realities of its top leaders tell a more complex story. Cardinals receive significant salaries, live rent-free in spacious residences, and enjoy various benefits. However, the late Pope Francis sought to shift this tradition by cutting cardinal salaries and opting to live in a modest guesthouse rather than the traditional papal apartments. His actions raised questions about the balance between the Church's teachings on poverty and the financial practices within the Vatican.
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surprising salaries and benefits of cardinals and the pope.