The Vatican said on Thursday that Pope Francis, known for his frugal ways, decided Vatican employees won't be getting the bonus that traditionally comes with the election of a new Pope.
In the past, the Vatican's 4,500-plus workers - both religious and lay - would receive an extra little something upon the death of one Pope and another upon the election of his successor: In 2005, the total reportedly came to euros 1,500 ($A1,915) apiece.
Vatican spokesman the Rev Federico Lombardi said that given tough economic times - the Vatican posted a 15 million-euro deficit in 2011 - "it didn't seem possible or appropriate to burden the Vatican's budget with a considerable, unforeseen extra expense."
