Pope Francis Dies at 88: What Happens to the Vatican Now?”

In a development that rocked the religious and global finance world, Pope Francis, head of the Roman Catholic Church and Vatican City, has died at the age of 88. The Vatican made the official announcement this morning, stating that the pontiff passed peacefully in his private quarters at the Apostolic Palace after complications from chronic health conditions, including sciatica and respiratory issues. The death of Pope Francis marks the end of a decade-long papacy filled with reform, controversy, and quite frankly—some divine-level budgeting.

How Pope Francis Managed the Church’s Trillions

Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, became pope in March 2013, following the surprise resignation of Pope Benedict XVI. He was the first Jesuit pope, the first from the Americas, and the first non-European pope in over 1,200 years. But beyond breaking traditions, Pope Francis handled the Catholic Church like a spiritual Fortune 500 CEO. Under his watch, the Vatican Bank, formally called the Institute for Works of Religion (IOR), underwent massive reforms. Prior to his death, the bank had a reported €5.3 billion in assets under management. He enforced transparency policies, fired cardinals, and launched financial audits that had Wall Street bankers sweating in envy—or fear. He said no to corruption, yes to clean books.

The Wealth Behind the Robes

Now, let’s get to the juicy part. The Catholic Church isn’t just a religious institution. It’s a financial empire. And Pope Francis tried his best to keep it holy. The Vatican’s real estate portfolio includes over 5,000 properties worldwide, worth an estimated €10 billion, including luxurious apartments in Rome, commercial properties in London, and convents in Madrid. Fun fact: Francis lived in a modest Vatican guesthouse instead of the lavish papal apartments, choosing humility over marble floors. He preferred Fiat 500s over Popemobiles. But let’s not act like it was all sandals and sackcloth. The Church, under Francis, still sat on gold reserves worth over $20 billion globally, according to some estimates.

Crypto, Climate, and Capitalism

Francis wasn’t your average pope. The man had opinions—strong ones—on everything from Bitcoin to billionaires. In 2021, he warned against “crypto greed”, calling it “a speculative bubble that can harm the poor.” Some crypto bros on Twitter still haven’t recovered. He also launched “Laudato Si’ Investments”, pushing the Church’s financial arms to invest in eco-friendly companies and ditch fossil fuels. The Vatican became one of the few sovereign entities with a net-zero emission pledge. Capitalism? He wasn’t a fan of its dark side. He once said, “This economy kills.” Wall Street didn’t exactly send him fruit baskets after that.

The Final Days

In recent months, Pope Francis had been visibly frail. He was in and out of Gemelli Hospital, and had canceled several public engagements due to health concerns. Insiders say he refused invasive treatments, insisting that “God’s timing is perfect.” He spent his last days reading scriptures, receiving visitors, and writing what may be his final apostolic letter—focused on global peace and economic fairness. He passed away on April 21, 2025, surrounded by his closest aides and a handful of cardinals. Vatican flags are now at half-mast.

What Happens to the Vatican Bank and Assets?

Now here’s what financial watchers want to know: What happens to the money? The Vatican operates under Canon Law, and all financial operations continue under the Cardinal Camerlengo until a new pope is elected. But trust us, banking in the Vatican is not like banking at Chase. All financial decisions—including oversight of real estate, gold reserves, and international investments—will be handled by the Prefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See.

Funeral Plans and Papal Transition

Pope Francis’ funeral will be held at St. Peter’s Basilica, likely drawing millions. Heads of state, royalty, billionaires, and global religious leaders are expected to attend. Think of it as the Met Gala of Global Mourning. Per tradition, the College of Cardinals will meet in a Papal Conclave to elect a new pope. Expect lots of smoke—both white and, metaphorically, from behind-the-scenes politicking.

Legacy: Faith, Finance, and Fiat Cars

Pope Francis will be remembered for mixing faith with fiscal sanity. He tackled abuse scandals, demanded economic fairness, and even had a hand in normalizing Vatican investments. He was also known for his jokes, once saying, “I’d rather be a sinner with hope than a saint with pride.” The world has lost a pope. The Church has lost a reformer. And the financial world has lost one of the boldest silent players in trillion-dollar conversations.  

#PopeFrancis #RIPPopeFrancis #VaticanNews #CatholicChurch #HolySee #PapalConclave #VaticanWealth #GlobalMourning #FaithAndFinance #ChurchAssets #JesuitPope #CryptoAndFaith # Pope Francis Dies