The situation facing the Domus Internationalis Paulus VI, located on Via della Scrofa in Rome, has reopened a fundamental debate that the Holy See has been addressing for years: how to manage a vast historical and real estate heritage in a context marked by budget deficits, debt, and a management structure that has not always been efficient. Founded in 1976 by Saint Paul VI as a residence for priests, bishops, and laity at the service of the universal Church, the Domus has fulfilled a specific institutional function for decades, hosting clerics from various countries, including Jorge Bergoglio in his pre-pontificate stage.
Valuable buildings, high costs
The Vatican is the owner of numerous properties of great historical value, many located in particularly sought-after areas of Rome. However, these are old buildings, subject to strict technical and regulatory requirements, which require very high investments for their conservation and updating. In a scenario of limited resources, decline in certain sources of income, and increase in structural expenses, directly maintaining all this heritage represents a burden that is difficult to sustain in the long term.
The option of long-term rental
In this context, the decision communicated to the residents of the Domus Paulus VI is inscribed, who have been informed of the need to vacate the building to allow for a comprehensive restructuring considered too costly for the Vatican coffers. The proposed alternative involves the long-term rental of the property to a private operator, who would assume the necessary investment for its rehabilitation and guarantee the Holy See a stable annual income. From an economic point of view, the measure seeks to reduce extraordinary expenses and ensure a regular source of financing.
The institutional dimension
Beyond the financial aspect, the decision has an institutional and pastoral dimension. The residents of the Domus sent a letter to Pope Leo XIV, in which they expressed their concern about the future of the residence and recalled that its purpose as a priestly house had been reaffirmed in 2022 by Pope Francis. The pontifical response, which confirmed the need for the move, precisely underlined the existing economic limitations and the difficulty of undertaking certain investments without compromising other priorities.