Texas megachurch pastor Joel Osteen brutally roasted amid Pope Francis comparisons

Daily Mail​

28-04-2025

A Texas megachurch pastor has been mercilessly mocked online after social media users compared his sprawling mansion to the humble room where Pope Francis chose to live during his 12-years as Pope.
The online roasting began when the X account World of Statistics shared an image on Friday showing Pope Francis's modest accommodations.
'In the 12 years of his Papacy, Pope Francis lived in room 201 of Casa Santa Marta. This was his room,' the account posted, alongside a photo of the simple bedroom containing just basic furniture and few personal items.
The post quickly went viral, with one user responding with a photo comparing the massive home of Joel Osteen, the pastor of Lakewood Church.
'Meanwhile this is the home of an evangelical mega church pastor (Joel Osteen)' the user responded, alongside an image of Osteen's enormous luxury mansion.
The post has since been viewed more than 4,000 times, with commenters slamming the televangelist's seemingly lavish lifestyle while praising the late Pope's modesty.
One user commented: 'One is a scammer, one is not.'
Despite the viral post sharing an incorrect image of the Pope's quarters, he did live in a similar looking modest room.
The humble bedroom where Pope Francis lived for 12 years has resurfaced in the wake of his death - with fans praising his very down-to-earth lifestyle.
Pope Francis, who was laid to rest on Saturday after his death on Easter Monday, decided to remain in Casa Santa Marta, the guesthouse next to St Peter's Basilica, rather than move to the Apostolic Palace when he became pontiff.
Rather than take over the traditional papal apartment, Francis lived in Room 201 - a suite of three rooms - from March 2013 to his death on April 21 this year.
Discussing this decision in 2013, Pope Francis said: 'I chose to live here, in Room 201, because when I took possession of the papal apartment, inside myself I distinctly heard a "no".'
Room 201 includes a small bedroom, an office and a reception room, all decorated with a few pieces of dark wood furniture - and a wooden crucifix hanging behind his desk.
In the office there are four chairs - including a more comfortable armchair - a simple desk and a cabinet, above which hangs the colorful image of a saint.
The minimal bedroom includes a small bed, two bedside cabinets, a large wardrobe, chest of drawers and another small chair. There are no decorations on the walls.
His sitting room has a five-piece sofa set in a powder blue color, with a small TV on a desk to the side.
Meanwhile, Osteen - who has a net worth of somewhere between $40 and $60 million - has lived in a $10.5 million home in the Houston suburb of River Oaks since 2010.
His family paid $247,000 in property taxes on it in 2017.
The two acre home features six bedrooms, three elevators, guest house and outdoor pool.
Osteen took over the Lakewood Church running in 1999 when his father, the founder, passed away.
The church has grown dramatically under Osteen and is regularly attended by 45,000 people weekly, making it the third-largest megachurch in the U.S., according to the Hartford Institute for Religion Research.
Osteen is a leader of what is known as the prosperity gospel, a belief that God wants his followers to be wealthy and healthy.
He is the author of several best-selling books, including, Your Best Life Now: 7 Steps to Living at Your Full Potential, which has sold eight million copies.
The church became shrouded in controversy in 2021 when it emerged that it was the recipient of $4.4 million in PPP loans that were later returned.
After Hurricane Harvey flooded Houston in 2017, Osteen opened his church to those seeking shelter after social media critics slammed the televangelist for not offering to house people in need.
Then, in 2021, the church attracted further controversy when it emerged that it received $4.4 million in federal COVID relief loans.
His televised services reach about 100 countries and renovating his church's arena cost nearly $100 million. It is the largest church in the US.
Osteen is one of the many preachers in the US who preach idea that 'if you give your money to God, God will bless you with money.'
Osteen has not taken a salary from his role as an executive with the church since 2005. In 2018, it was reported that the salary would be around $200,000.
His personal wealth was reportedly created through his personal appearances and books. Following the success of his first book, Osteen received a $13 million advance for his follow-up.
The Financial Times reported in 2019 that in 2017, Osteen's church raked in $89 million in donations while spending $1.2 million on charitable causes.
During that period, the church was spending $115 million upgrading its facility which was formerly the home of the Houston Rockets NBA team. Those upgrades included two 30-foot waterfalls.
Contrary to a popular rumor, Osteen does not drive a $325,000 Ferrari 458 Italia, the Houston Chronicle previously reported. Unlike others in his field, Osteen does not own a private jet.