Pope Leo XIV.

Pope Leo XIV.

Vatikanstadt, Italien - On May 23, 2025, Pope Leo XIV paid a special premium of 500 euros to all employees of the church state. This gesture is seen as a sign of appreciation and symbolic restart under the newly chosen pontificate. The payment is carried out in a context in which the tradition of granting employed special premiums was abolished under its predecessor, Pope Francis. Around 4,800 employees work in the Vatican, more than half of whom work for the Holy Stuhl, while the others are employed in the Vatican state, for example as gardeners or in museums. A full-time work week in the Vatican is 36 hours, and every two years of service agencies and inflation compensation are granted.

On Friday, Pope Leo XIV also donated 5000 croissants to homeless in Rome. This initiative was made possible by the association "Amitié France Italie". The President of the Association, Paolo Celi, has been working closely with the Vatican dicaster for charity for many years and regularly brings relief supplies for homeless people to the Vatican, including Iglu tents, which are placed close to the colonnades.

a new pontificate horizon

On May 8, Pope Leo XIV, a Pan-American religious, was elected. At his inauguration fair, which will be broadcast live on May 18, he receives the papal fishing ring and the pallium. Many hope for peace and reconciliation from him, not only within the church, but also in view of the challenges of society as a whole. The sermon this Sunday is considered a kind of government program and reflects its vision for the church.

Leo XIV. The new Pope has already warned US Vice President JD Vance to charity and plans to continue the "synodal" path in order to promote more say and inner-church dialogue. Also in relation to social issues, he expresses himself critically towards HATE Speech on social media and the associated lack of dialogue ability.

The Vatican state in change

The role of the Pope has changed over the centuries. In a new book, Jörg Ernesti, a church historian, describes the development from the mighty church state to the current microstaat structure of the Vatican state, which has existed since 1929. The Pippinian donation in 754 is seen as the birth of the papal state, while the old church state ended in 1870 during the Italian agreement.

The Vatican state is now considered a "en miniature", which gives the Pope a sovereignty and influence in world politics. Despite the challenges of an absolute monarchy system without separation of powers, the Vatican has a lot of expertise in foreign policy and maintains diplomatic relationships with 180 countries. Ernesti predicts that the Vatican state will remain in 100 years if it adapts to the requirements of the time.