See inside the pope's official residence, an expansive apartment network with nearly a dozen rooms
Usually, popes live in the papal apartments at the Apostolic Palace. Pope Leo may buck tradition like Pope Francis. Photos show the spacious quarters.
May 14, 2025 - 06:22
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A crowd in front of the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican's St. Peter's Square in 2015.
Giampiero Sposito/Reuters
Pope Leo XIV watched the papal apartments get unsealed this weekend.
His predecessor didn't live in the traditional apartments at the Vatican.
It's unclear where the new pope will live, but photos show the chapel and other rooms.
After Pope Francis' death in April, the papal apartments inside the Apostolic Palace were sealed, a ritual that symbolizes the papal throne is empty and secures his personal papers.
On Sunday, those seals were removed, perhaps signaling the new pope is ready to move in.
The apartments haven't been occupied for over a decade. Francis chose to live in a modest Vatican guest house instead. Pope Leo XIV may follow in his predecessor's footsteps or opt for the more traditional choice of the Apostolic Palace in Vatican City.
The building dates back to the 15th century and holds offices, museums, a library, and the Sistine Chapel.
Photos show the spacious papal apartments that Leo may call home.
Protocol dictates that the pope's rooms be sealed after his death. Vatican officials unsealed them on Sunday.
Pope Leo XIV watching as the Apostolic Palace is unsealed.
Vatican Media/Francesco Sforza/Handout via Reuters
It's not certain that this means the new pope will live in these apartments. He could choose a humbler abode, as Francis did.
The apartments are on the third floor of the Apostolic Palace.
Leo in the corridor of the Third Loggia of the Apostolic Palace.
Francesco Sforza/Vatican Media/Vatican Pool/Getty Images
Mural maps cover the corridor leading to the apartments. The area is known as the Third Loggia.
Pope Leo XIV visited what could be his new living quarters.
Leo in the Apostolic Palace.
Vatican Media/Francesco Sforza/Handout via Reuters
The rooms are spacious, but some areas are not as lavishly decorated as some other parts of the Apostolic Palace.
The new pope also saw the apartments' private chapel.
Leo in the private chapel in the Apostolic Palace.
Francesco Sforza/Vatican Media via AP
In 2004, a photographer captured an image of Pope John Paul II praying in this room for victims of the Madrid bombings.
Popes have often met world leaders in the papal library.
Italian President Sergio Mattarella with Pope Francis in 2021.
Presidential Palace/Handout via Reuters
Heads of state from Malta, Slovakia, Lebanon, the US, and many other countries have had audiences with the Holy See.
The library is on the second floor of the palace.
In 2020, Pope Francis used the library for his general audiences during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Francis leading the Angelus prayer at the library of the Apostolic Palace in 2021.
Vatican Media/Handout via Reuters
These weekly events gave visitors a chance to see the pope.
About a dozen rooms make up the apartments.
An apartment room in the Apostolic Palace in 2007.
Grzegorz Galazka/Archivio Grzegorz Galazka/Mondadori via Getty Images
In addition to the library and chapel, there's a sitting room, study, bedroom, and medical clinic. They surround the Courtyard of Sixtus V.
In 2005, renovations updated the kitchen and clinic, Catholic News reported at the time.
It's traditional for the pope to live in the papal apartments.
The papal apartments in the Apostolic Palace in 2007.
Grzegorz Galazka/Archivio Grzegorz Galazka/Mondadori via Getty Images
In 1903, Pope Pius X became the first pontiff to live in the apartments. Many were surprised by Francis' choice to live in Casa Santa Marta, the Vatican guest house, though it was in keeping with his reputation for humility.
Leo seems to share similar views. Recently, he told Vatican News that a "bishop is not supposed to be a little prince sitting in his kingdom, but rather called authentically to be humble, to be close to the people he serves, to walk with them and to suffer with them."
