In a gesture of gratitude and tradition, Pope Leo XIV has reinstated the long-standing practice of granting a “conclave bonus” to Vatican employees for their service during the sede vacante period. Approximately 5,000 staff members working across the Roman Curia and Vatican City State institutions will receive an extra 500 euros (about $566) in their June paychecks.
The bonus had been a customary expression of appreciation by newly elected popes to thank employees who serve diligently—often working long hours—between the death of a pope and the election of his successor. According to the report, workers from various departments including the Vatican Museums, the Vatican Pharmacy, the Vatican Library, Vatican Media, and even lay staff in the Vatican’s bookstores, clothing stores, post office, and gas stations will benefit from this financial gift.
Though Pope Leo XIV did not speak about the bonus during his recent address to Holy See and state workers, he expressed his deep respect for their work and faith. “To work in the Roman Curia means to contribute to keeping the memory of the Apostolic See alive,” the pope said at the May 24 meeting. “And, by analogy, this can also be said of the services of Vatican City State.”
He praised their faithful service, adding, “Each one of you gives your contribution, carrying out your daily work with commitment and also with faith, because faith and prayer are like salt for food; they impart flavor.”
The tradition had been paused in 2013 when Pope Francis, newly elected, opted to direct the funds that would have been used for the conclave bonus to papal charities. Former Vatican spokesperson Father Federico Lombardi explained at the time that due to the economic situation and the fact that Pope Benedict XVI had resigned rather than died, “it did not seem possible or appropriate to burden the budgets of Vatican entities with a considerable extraordinary expense that was not foreseen.”
While some employees were disappointed by the absence of the customary bonus, Pope Francis implemented a different form of support. In January 2025, he approved a monthly 300-euro (about $339) bonus for employees with three or more children—a measure that continues to benefit many Vatican families.
Pope Leo’s decision marks a return to a tradition last observed under Pope Benedict XVI, who granted a 1,000-euro bonus to Vatican staff following the death of Pope John Paul II in 2005.
This reinstatement is not only a monetary gesture but a symbolic reaffirmation of the value the Church places on the unseen, day-to-day faith-filled labor of its workers. As Pope Leo XIV emphasized, their efforts are an essential part of preserving the life and mission of the Holy See.
