Following Pope Francis’s passing on April 21 and the election of Pope Leo on May 8, many people have wondered where the highest authority in the Catholic Church lives. Since 1870, more than a dozen pontiffs have occupied the same residence after ascending to the holiest position in the Church.

Takeaways New Hide ▲

Apostolic Palace served

as the pope's residence

since the 17th century

Pope Francis broke

tradition, living in

the Vatican guesthouse

Pope Leo XIV expected

to return to

traditional papal apartments

Papal apartment offers

privacy, tradition, and

iconic Vatican views

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However, one pope chose to live outside the official residence. Pope Francis broke tradition by living in a guest house rather than the Pope’s traditional accommodations. Will the newly elected Pope Leo opt for a guest house like his predecessor? Or will he choose to live in the Apostolic Palace, the luxurious official residence of the Pope, located in Vatican City, Rome?

Let’s dig into what we know about the longstanding residence of newly elected popes, how it has evolved since the building’s inception in the 17th century, and what Pope Leo has said about whether he’ll live there.

A Holy History of the Palace

According to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Italian architect Domenico Fontana began constructing the historical complex of buildings that would become the Apostolic Palace around the Courtyard of Sixtus V. Pope Sixtus V commissioned the holy residence in 1589. Later, Pope Urban VII, Pope Innocent XI, and Pope Clement VIII contributed to redesigning the palace. Construction on what is now recognized as the Apostolic Palace occurred between the 15th and 17th centuries.

The palace, which covers 1.7 million square feet, mixes Baroque, Renaissance, and Neoclassical architecture. The Apostolic Palace houses the Vatican Museums, the Vatican Library, and the Sistine Chapel. These areas are accessible to the public, but the papal apartments — Sala Regia (The Regal Room), and Cappella Paolina (Holy Chapel) — are not. The living quarters are located on the third floor.

The Palace Under Each Vatican Papacy

The buildings that make up the Apostolic Palace underwent different renovations, changes, and redesigns during each papacy. According to Britannica, Pope Symmachus constructed two papal residences in the Vatican, one on each side of St. Peter’s Basilica, in the 6th century. Then, in the 12th century, Pope Eugene III expanded the Vatican Palace by building a second fortified palace. In 1447, Pope Nicholas V renovated the residence built by Pope Eugene and sponsored the construction of the current Apostolic Palace. He used some materials from the old building.

Following Pope Nicholas’ reconstruction, Pope Sixtus IV commissioned the assembly of the Sistine Chapel, per the Vatican Museum. A lover of the arts, he decorated the walls with paintings from various Renaissance painters, including Sandro Botticelli and Cosimo Rosselli. Pope Julius II, however, was the one to commission Michelangelo to paint the entire ceiling. The Italian painter used the medium fresco, a painting technique executed on “wet” plaster; the word “fresco” means “fresh” in Italian.

According to the Patrons of the Vatican Museum, Pope Julius II began remodeling St. Peter’s Basilica, commissioning Donato Bramante to build the Bevledere Courtyard. Clement VII de’ Medici commissioned Michelangelo to paint the famous Last Judgement on the back wall, although the work wasn’t completed until Pope Paul III’s era.

Pope Nicholas V oversaw the construction of the Vatican Library and modified the papal apartments. He also came up with the original idea for St. Peter’s Basilica, the construction of which spanned multiple papacies. Pope Sixtus V ordered the construction of a new wing for the Vatican Library and a new wing for the Apostolic Palace during his time as pope. He also commissioned the addition of the iconic dome to St. Peter’s Basilica.

The Apostolic Palace has been continuously renovated under other papacies.

Who Lived in the Holy Palace Throughout History?

Newly appointed popes have typically followed the tradition of living in the Apostolic Palace. Pope Nicholas V was the first pope to live in the Apostolic Palace. However, in 1903, Pope Pius X became the first pope to live in the modern Apostolic apartments, overlooking St. Peter’s Square. The private living space consists of a bedroom, a dining room, a library, and a private chapel allowing the pope to celebrate Mass alone and conduct private worship.

Following Pope Pius, every pope continued the sacred tradition of living in the Apostolic Palace until Pope Francis. As reported by Elle, Pope Francis chose to live in a suite within the Domus Sanctae Marthae guesthouse. In doing so, he became the first to break the multi-generational custom of residing in the Apostolic Palace.

Living in line with his legacy of advocating for the marginalized, Pope Francis aimed to live a life of simplicity and community with others. The Argentinian-born pope believed the Palace was isolating and too fancy.

Pope Francis Allowed the Public to Explore the Sacred Living Space

For centuries, the papal apartments were strictly limited to the eyes of the popes residing there. But in 2016, Pope Francis opened the summer quarters to tourists for the first time. Visitors could explore the bedroom where former popes have slept, the private chapel, the Papal Throne room, the Consistory room, and the study room.

The papal apartments have since been closed to public access, with onlookers wondering if Pope Leo will reopen the residence to the people. Considering his recent reelection, no plans have been made to reopen the sacred living space.

Where Does Pope Leo XIV Live Now?

Pope Leo XIV was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, making him the first American pope. He has spent over two decades living in Chiclayo, Peru, and served as the official Bishop of the South American city.

According to Reuters, Pope Leo is currently living in an apartment near St. Peter’s Basilica because the papal apartments are still under construction. However, where he will decide to reside permanently remains unclear. Matteo Bruni, the Vatican’s spokesperson, has declined to answer questions about Pope Leo’s chosen residence. However, a senior Vatican official told the outlet that Pope Leo is expected to return to tradition and live in the Apostolic Palace. The official stated that he would likely move in after giving his first mass.

Until Pope Leo actually settles in, we won’t know for sure if he’s following in his predecessor’s footsteps and bucking tradition or returning to the longtime traditional residence.

Inside the Conclave Process

Are you wondering how Pope Leo became the next person to potentially reside in the Apostolic Palace? Let’s talk about the Papal Conclave! According to NPR, the term conclave is derived from the Latin phrase for locked room. This sacred ritual was first held at the Sistine Chapel in Rome, Italy, where the assembly of cardinals within the Roman Catholic Church elects a new pope. The ritual has continued for the past 800 years. Following the conclave proceedings, the newly elected pope resides in the Apostolic Palace throughout his papacy.

The secretive tradition began in the 13th century, resulting from a period of disarray with no pope. Although the exact origins of the papal conclave are unclear, the church established the rules for sealing the cardinals inside the Apostolic Palace until a two-thirds majority voted in a new pope. The conclave process was formalized by Pope Gregory X in the Constitution Ubi periculum in 1274 to take place in the Sistine Chapel regularly. All cardinals must be under 80 to be eligible to engage in the process. They aren’t allowed contact with the outside world until the process is completed— prohibited from using a cell phone or even watching the news.

The process must begin at least 15 to 20 days after the cardinal chair becomes unoccupied, a rule updated by Benedict XVI in 2013. When the cardinals select a new pope, white smoke erupts from a chimney in the Sistine Chapel.

The 2024 Focus Features film “Conclave” starring Ralph Fiennes gave a fictionalized view into the process.