Pope Leo moves into papal residence eschewed by Pope Francis

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Ten months aft taking office, Pope Leo XIV connected Saturday yet moved into his apartments successful the Vatican's Apostolic Palace, a historical papal residence that his predecessor had eschewed.

"This afternoon, Pope Leo XIV volition instrumentality possession of the flat successful the Apostolic Palace, moving, with his closest collaborators, into the spaces antecedently utilized by his predecessors," the Vatican said successful a statement.

Leo, the archetypal U..S pope, decided to determination into the apartments successful the aftermath of his May 8, 2025, election arsenic caput of the world's 1.4 cardinal Catholics.

But aft being abandoned nether the precocious Pope Francis, who chose a much humble dwelling elsewhere successful the Vatican, they required extended renovation.

Pope Leo Visits Papal Apartment At The Apostolic Palace

During the interim, the 70-year-old Leo continued staying astatine the Palace of the Holy Office, adjacent the Vatican, wherever helium had lived arsenic a cardinal.

The ample flat helium has moved into includes bedrooms, a chapel, a vestibule, a library, an office, a eating country and a country from which the pontiff recites the Angelus supplication each Sunday done a model overlooking St. Peter's Square.

Francis had shocked traditionalists erstwhile helium decided connected his predetermination successful 2013 to unrecorded successful a elemental flat successful the Santa Marta guesthouse successful the Vatican, wherever helium remained until death.

The motion was acclaimed by supporters of a humble pope but attracted disapproval from conservatives, who accused him of divesting the papacy of a ineffable element.

The papal apartments are successful the bosom of the Apostolic Palace, which houses the Sistine Chapel, the Apostolic Library and the Secretary of State, the cardinal hub of the Holy See's administration.