Posted on 06/13/2025 10:11:43 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
I wonder how much higher the US would be if you backed out 40 million illegals from the population number. Is my math correct at 13.8%?
EC
“Thus, you probably have a very sensitive BS-meter “
Long before Trump coined the term “fake news”, my dad (died in 1980) used to say something to the effect of:
“Broadcasting the news isn’t free, which means everything they report is what someone paid them to report. Draw your own conclusions.”
So yeah, my BS alarm goes off as soon as they open their mouths.
“I think the Vatican is by far the richest country per capita.”
Vatican GDP per capita — $21k (Rank 44): https://georank.org/economy/vatican-city
Even if they pay higher taxes, they still have more discretionary money to play with.
That’s true, assuming you trust their methodology.
I am suspicious of international comparisons - everyone has an agenda.
But like I said, I don’t have anything to back it up - just a skeptic.
That might be income
The Vatican has billions in assets in the form of artwork.
“money in the Vatican bank”
The Vatican Bank (Institute for the Works of Religion) exists to manage funds for the Church’s global activities, such as supporting dioceses, missionary work, and charitable initiatives, not for profit or personal enrichment. Its assets, estimated at a few billion dollars, are modest compared to major global banks and are held in trust for the Church’s 1.4 billion members, not just Vatican residents. Per capita calculations don’t work here, as the Vatican’s resources are not distributed like a nation’s GDP but directed toward spiritual and humanitarian goals.
The Vatican Museums, housing priceless artifacts like the Sistine Chapel, are not liquid assets but cultural and religious treasures preserved for humanity. Their value is inestimable, but they are not for sale; they exist to inspire faith and educate, not to generate wealth. The Vatican’s annual budget, around $300 million, often runs deficits, relying on donations like Peter’s Pence to fund operations and global outreach.
The numbers in the bank ain’t secret.
And you really think that they could sell off the Sistine chapel? Would you even want that?
Billions? Did you make up that number?
The artworks are, literally priceless.
And the “most priceless” are literally immovable: Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel frescoes, Raphael’s Stanzie,
Most Vatican artworks are inalienable under canon law and Italian cultural heritage laws, as the Vatican is surrounded by Italy, a signatory to UNESCO conventions protecting cultural patrimony. For example, the Sistine Chapel or St. Peter’s Basilica’s artworks are part of immovable structures, making sale logistically impossible. Even movable pieces, like paintings or sculptures, are often classified as part of the Vatican’s universal heritage, subject to restrictions on transfer. The 1929 Lateran Treaty and subsequent agreements with Italy reinforce protections against selling such items. Additionally, the Vatican’s own statutes prioritize preservation over commercialization.
Major works—like Caravaggio’s Deposition or Bernini’s sculptures—are categorically unsellable due to their religious and cultural significance.
The billions number is nonsense for the above reasons
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