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Vatican workers have complained to Pope Francis about labor inequality, low morale and wage cuts, as the world’s smallest city-state is immersed in a global debate over the future of work caused by the Covid-19 crisis.
In an open letter to the head of the Catholic Church, Vatican staff said the Holy See’s decision to reduce staff salaries it was unfair during the pandemic, and perpetuated a workplace that was “exclusive, antimeritocratic, and decentralizing”.
This year Pope Francis issued a decree that the Vatican would reduce the salaries of cardinals by 10% and reduce the salaries of other workers by between 3% and 8% to address the budget deficit caused by the collapse. revenues during the pandemic.
“According to basic theories of work psychology, these strategies do not yield benefits in the long run, they are boomerang in terms of motivation, personal satisfaction and production, in terms of performance,” Vatican staff wrote. unsigned letter Published in various Italian media.
The Vatican did not want to comment on the letter. An official confirmed that it was circulating in various offices of the Holy See, but said it was not clear how many employees were signatories. The Vatican, which has a permanent population of less than 1,000 people, had a total of 4,618 employees in 2019, according to state news reports.
The letter complained that the pandemic had increased work pressure while many were unable to work remotely, and said there was “great sadness” that the Vatican has not yet set up a human resources department.
Staff also said the Holy See’s desire to cut back was particularly reprehensible as Vatican staff could not enjoy the benefits they would enjoy in private companies, including “productivity bonuses, goal-based promotions, merit-based selection systems and professional growth.” .
The pope’s decision to cut salaries was an “honorary purpose” for caring for existing jobs, but the letter said staff were “angry” at not being consulted about the decision and complained that some workers suffered more than others. They also requested a meeting with Pope Francis to discuss the situation.
This year, Juan Antonio Guerrero Alves, the Vatican’s chief economist, said spending this year will be “the lowest in the recent history of the Holy See” as museums have been closed during closures and donations have narrowed. in his finances.
The Vatican has said it expects its total revenue to fall by 30% this year to 213 million euros compared to 2019, the Covid-19 pandemic in Europe compared to the previous year, and a deficit of 49.7 million euros to 20.7 million compared to 2021 million euros. deficit in 2019.
He said he would use the money from his reserves to cover the gap, as the exact size is unknown and includes large real estate around the world and other investments controlled by APSA, its independent wealth manager.
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