The most important process in the Catholic Church has officially begun: the Conclave, where the next Pope will be elected — the person who will lead the religion and go down in history for their papacy. And because this is one of the Church’s most monumental events, the Vatican is spending a staggering amount to make it happen.
This time, the cardinals will choose the 267th Pontiff. Jorge Mario Bergoglio — better known as Pope Francis — was number 266. Francis passed away on April 21 in the Vatican, after battling a series of health issues, including a case of bronchitis that progressed into pneumonia and left him hospitalized for several weeks.
There are 133 cardinals under the age of 80 eligible to vote in this Conclave. As tradition dictates, the voting will take place inside the Sistine Chapel, which is closed off exclusively for the occasion. In the past, papal elections could drag on for years. Today? They usually take just a few days — but still rack up massive expenses.
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So, how much is the Vatican spending on the Conclave?
The Conclave began today, May 7, and it’s a logistical beast. Beyond its spiritual weight, it requires a ton of coordination — transportation, food, security, lodging, and dozens of other moving parts. And although Pope Francis had called for austerity, the numbers suggest this won’t be a budget operation.
Let’s start with security. According to multiple sources, the Vatican went all out with its protection protocol. With potential threats looming during the vote, they reportedly purchased military-grade surveillance drones, priced between $100,000 and $300,000, to monitor the Sistine Chapel.
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Thousands of guards, agents, and even firefighters have been deployed — all of which costs money. High-tech equipment has also been installed in both the Sistine Chapel and Casa Santa Marta (where the cardinals are staying) to block any incoming or outgoing communication signals.
Speaking of Casa Santa Marta, it had to be fully prepped to host all 133 cardinals: beds, linens, pillows, personal supplies — plus three meals a day for the duration of the election process. All on the Vatican’s tab.
While the Vatican has remained tight-lipped about specific costs, we already know this won’t be cheap. For context, Pope Francis’s funeral alone reportedly cost around €3 million (roughly 66.5 million Mexican pesos). Conclave expenses are covered by Vatican funds and donations from the faithful.
According to official data, the funeral of Pope John Paul II and the Conclave that elected Benedict XVI cost nearly €7 million. So experts believe this round could cost anywhere from €3 to €4 million — depending, of course, on how long the voting takes.
This article was originally written in Spanish by Carla Martell in Cultura Colectiva.
