Pope Francis has decided not to move into the papal apartments in the Apostolic Palace, but to live in a suite in the Vatican guesthouse where he has been since the beginning of the conclave that elected him, Fr Federico Lombardi, the Vatican spokesman, has said.
“He is experimenting with this type of living arrangement, which is simple,” but allows him “to live in community with others”, both the permanent residents – priests and bishops who work at the Vatican – as well as guests coming to the Vatican for meetings and conferences, Fr Lombardi said.
The spokesman said Pope Francis has moved out of the room he drew by lot before the conclave and into Suite 201, a room that has slightly more elegant furnishings and a larger living room where he can receive guests.
The Domus Sanctae Marthae, the official name of the guesthouse, was built in 1996 specifically to house cardinals during a conclave.
Celebrating Mass with the residents and guests, Pope Francis told them he intended to stay, Fr Lombardi said. The permanent residents, who had to move out during the conclave, had just returned to their old rooms.
Pope Francis has been there since his election, taking his meals in the common dining room downstairs and celebrating a 7am Mass with Vatican employees in the main chapel of the residence.
He will be the first pope in 110 years not to live in the papal apartments on the third floor of the Apostolic Palace.
In 1903, St Pius X became the first pope to live in the apartments overlooking St Peter’s Square. The apartments were completely remodelled by Pope Paul VI in 1964 and have undergone smaller modifications by each pope since, according to Mondo Vaticano, a Vatican-published mini-encyclopedia about Vatican buildings, offices and tradition.
The large living room of the flat is located directly above the papal library where official audiences with visiting bishops and heads of state are held.
Pope Francis will continue to use the library for official audiences and to recite the Angelus prayer on Sundays and holy days from the apartment window overlooking St Peter’s Square, Fr Lombardi said.
The apartments contain a chapel, an office for the Pope and a separate office for his secretaries, the Pope’s bedroom, a dining room, kitchen and rooms for two secretaries and for the household staff.
When Pope Francis returned to the guesthouse after his election, Fr Lombardi had said the move was intended to be short-term while a few small work projects were completed in the papal apartments. He said that all the work had now been completed, but at least for the foreseeable future Pope Francis would not move in.
The Domus Sanctae Marthae, named after St Martha, is a five-storey building on the edge of Vatican City.
While offering relative comfort, the residence is not a luxury hotel. The building has 105 two-room suites and 26 singles; about half of the rooms are occupied by the permanent residents. Each suite has a sitting room with a desk, three chairs, a cabinet and large closet; a bedroom with dresser, night table and clothes stand; and a private bathroom with a shower.
The rooms all have telephones and access to an international satellite television system.
The building also has a large meeting room and a variety of small sitting rooms. In addition to the dining room and the main chapel, it also has four private chapels, located at the end of hallways on the third and fifth floors of each of the building’s two wings.
Areas of Catholic Herald business are still recovering post-pandemic.
However, we are reaching out to the Catholic community and readership, that has been so loyal to the Catholic Herald. Please join us on our 135 year mission by supporting us.
We are raising £250,000 to safeguard the Herald as a world-leading voice in Catholic journalism and teaching.
We have been a bold and influential voice in the church since 1888, standing up for traditional Catholic culture and values. Please consider donating.