Pius VI saw the change in Joseph's expression and asked cautiously, "Your Highness, the reforms you've described may raise the Holy See's standing, but as you know, the Holy See pays substantial salaries every year to the clergy of its various departments, as well as the Papal Guard and its servants.
"To be honest, even without losing a single scudo of our former income, the Holy See has to borrow several million scudos each year just to cover its expenses.
"If we truly give up Church lands and abolish the tithe, we won't be able to keep the Holy See running. I'm afraid we won't even be able to pay the interest on our loans..." Joseph knew, of course, that the Holy See's total debt had reached thirteen million scudos, or more than forty-five million francs. This was not a debt owed by churches across Europe, but by the Holy See's central administration. Interest payments alone came to three or four million francs a year. Yet he merely said calmly, "As I said, the Holy See can negotiate with national governments to retain a small share of its land revenues. Together with 'voluntary offerings,' that should bring in at least several million francs a year.
"And Avignon has a steady stream of local tax revenue. I should think that would be enough to keep the Holy See running."
Pius VI gave a bitter look. "Your Highness, Avignon's tax revenue isn't even enough to cover its own expenses. The Holy See has been sending funds here for years. Oh, and only eleven thousand people remain in the city now, with the population still falling. Even the farmers of the County of Venaissin have been leaving in droves for factories in Nîmes and Salon. Abandoned fields are everywhere."
The County of Venaissin