Pope Leo XIV has formally repealed a controversial housing measure enacted under Pope Francis that required senior Vatican officials to pay market-rate rents for Vatican-owned residences, signaling an early shift in governance style and curial priorities.
According to LifeSiteNews, a decree issued by Pope Leo XIV entered into force on February 1, abrogating a February 13, 2023 rescript issued by Pope Francis that had withdrawn free or reduced-cost Vatican housing from cardinals, dicastery heads, and other senior officials in active service.
Italian journalist Nico Spuntoni, writing in Il Giornale, reported that the repeal was adopted as part of a broader effort by the new pontiff to reverse decisions of the previous pontificate that had caused discontent within the Roman Curia. “Leo XIV gives another signal of his desire to turn the page from the previous pontificate,” Spuntoni wrote, describing the original housing policy as “a measure considered by many to be populist,” according to LifeSiteNews.
Like the 2023 rescript it overturns, Pope Leo XIV’s decree was not published in the Holy See’s daily official bulletin. Instead, it was physically posted in the San Damaso Courtyard within the Apostolic Palace, continuing a practice that has drawn scrutiny for its lack of transparency.
The original rescript, issued by Pope Francis, stipulated that cardinals, presidents, secretaries, and dicastery heads in active service would no longer be entitled to free Vatican accommodation or rents set below market value. At the time, Francis justified the measure by citing the Holy See’s “growing commitments to the universal Church and the needy,” urging affected officials “to make an exceptional sacrifice,” according to LifeSiteNews.
An Urgent Message from Sister Sara – Please Watch
Several prominent churchmen were directly impacted by the policy. Among them was Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke, who reportedly faced a rent increase of approximately three times his previous rate for his Rome apartment. This came after Pope Francis had also withdrawn Burke’s “Cardinal’s plate,” a customary allowance linked to the cardinalatial title.
Further reporting by journalist Diane Montagna, cited by LifeSiteNews, highlighted that the rescript was not retroactive and applied only to curial officials appointed after its issuance. As a result, it affected Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who was appointed prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops on January 30, 2023 and moved to Rome shortly thereafter. Prevost reportedly paid full market rent for his residence near the Vatican for nearly two years.
Montagna also noted that Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernández would have fallen under the scope of the rescript following his July 1, 2023 appointment as prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith. However, Fernández suggested in a Facebook post that Pope Francis may have exempted him personally. Recounting a private conversation, Fernández wrote that Francis had selected a Vatican residence for him and explained: “Because you come from Río Cuarto, from the countryside, you need a wide view, to see greenery,” adding that the gesture reflected “Francis’s sensitivity and exquisite charity,” according to LifeSiteNews.
Spuntoni further observed that Pope Leo XIV’s decision reflects renewed attention to the living conditions of Vatican officials, particularly as the Pope himself is expected to move into the Apostolic Palace in the coming weeks.
The repeal marks one of the most visible administrative reversals of the previous pontificate to date, offering an early indication of Pope Leo XIV’s approach to governance and his relationship with the Roman Curia.
Your support brings the truth to the world.
Catholic Online News exists because of donors like you. We are 100% funded by people who believe the world deserves real, uncensored news rooted in faith and truth — not corporate agendas. Your gift ensures millions can continue to access the news they can trust — stories that defend life, faith, family, and freedom.
When truth is silenced, your support speaks louder.
