Papal Finances
Papal Finances: A Historical and Modern Overview
The financial underpinnings of the papacy, the governance of the Roman Catholic Church, are a complex and evolving subject. Historically, papal finances were significantly intertwined with territorial holdings. The Papal States, encompassing a large swathe of central Italy, provided substantial revenue for centuries. These revenues, derived from taxation, agriculture, and other economic activities, funded the papal court, charitable works, and the construction of magnificent churches and palaces like St. Peter’s Basilica.