Budget Challenges
The Vatican struggles with a significant budget deficit, relying on donations, museum ticket sales, and investments to fund its operations, with a 2022 budget projecting 770 million euros.
Recent financial scandals and a decline in donations, particularly , have exacerbated the Vatican's financial woes, forcing to seek new funding sources.
Declining Donations and Future Prospects
Contributions from U.S. bishops and individual Catholics have fallen, with Pence donations dropping from a high of $101 million in 2006 to $47 million post-COVID-19.
Despite recent slight increases in donations, Vatican officials anticipate further growth, partly due to traditional bumps after papal elections, but face challenges in attracting new donors, especially outside the .S..