No transparency

God and money: this is how rich the Vatican is

Incredible riches lurk behind the walls of the Papal States.(Bild: EPA)

Great wealth, no transparency: people don't talk about money, especially not in the Vatican. How rich is the Papal States really? How does the Vatican invest its enormous fortune? How much salary does a cardinal receive? Krone+ went in search of financial clues.

In the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 6:19), Jesus unequivocally calls on his disciples: "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth!" However, the Vatican's interpretation of these wise words is rather loose. Because if there is one thing that is not lacking in the Papal States, it is money and riches. In its long and turbulent history, the Catholic Church has amassed enormous assets.