Is the Catholic Church a sinking ship?

With an estimated 1.406 billion baptized Catholics worldwide as of 2023, Vatican City is the Pope’s home and the vital center of his spiritual activities and governance. 

Let’s look at the Vatican's books as far as public records allow. 2021 is the last year with figures available. Revenues were €770 million; expenditures were €803 million, which left a deficit of €33 million. By 2023, the deficit had exploded to over €83 million—270% growth. Vatican City employees (again, an ancient figure—4,822 people in 2016) are screaming for a COL adjustment and threats of unionization. Meanwhile, court cases of embezzlement added to the continuing sad tale of clergy sex abuse have reduced revenues.

In short, it's a hot mess, to use a technical term. 135 octogenarians are vying for the honor of inheriting this disaster in the making. What could go wrong? The promise of a smoke signal will tell us who gets the impossible job.

Perhaps the real debate is whether “the old-time Latin religion” has better branding than a more egalitarian version. Maybe they’ll find an ecclesiastical Elon to root out waste and corruption. Perhaps the New Pope will sell it and turn Vatican City into a spiritual Disneyland—an updated version of the Avignon Captivity, and outsource the actual administrative governance to Manila.

U.S. Cardinal Seán P. O’Malley, president of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, third from left, attends the Mass on the fifth day of the “novendiali,” nine days of mourning for Pope Francis, in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican April 30, 2025. (CNS photo/Lola Gomez)

PS. Those clown suits are pretty ridiculous. Even a bit frociaggine!