TheRoom of Tears (Italian:Stanza delle Lacrime),^[1] also called theCrying Room (Italian:Stanza del Pianto), is a small antechamber within theSistine Chapel inVatican City, where a newly electedpope changes into hispapal cassock for the first time.

The Room of Tears receives its name as a reference to tears that have been shed by newly elected popes within it.^[2] According to Fr. Christopher Whitehead, the room's name can be explained "because the poor man obviously breaks down at being elected."^[1] It is alternatively referred to as the Crying Room.^[3]

The room is located in Vatican City, to the left of the altar of theSistine Chapel, and contains three different sizes of papal outfits (large, medium, and small), for the new pontiff to choose from and initially dress in.^[1][4][5] These vestments are customarily sewn by tailors fromGammarelli, the official papal tailor.^[6] It also contains seven piled white shoe boxes, which are assumed to contain various sizes of thepapal shoes.^[7] Additionally, the room holds albs, chasubles, and copes worn by various popes across the years, including the cope ofPope Pius VI and the stole ofPope Pius VII.^[8]

Pope Leo XIII was said to have cried upon his election in1878. After the1958 papal conclave electedPope John XXIII, he looked at himself in the mirror wearing the papal cassock. Due to his large frame, it did not properly fit the pontiff, leading him to jokingly remark that "This man will be a disaster on television!"^[3] After the2005 papal conclave,Pope Benedict XVI was said to have entered the room looking upset, but emerged in a brighter mood.^[9] In an interview featured in the 2025 BBC documentary "Secrets of the Conclave," it was revealed by Most ReverenedDiego Ravelli (Master of Pontifical Liturgical Celebrations) that the newly-electedPope Leo XIV was "overwhelmed with emotion," as was himself, when the two were in the room alone upon the aftermath of the2025 papal conclave.^[10]

• The room makes an appearance in the 1968 filmThe Shoes of the Fisherman.
• The room makes an appearance in the 2019 filmThe Two Popes, depicting a fictional moment wherePope Benedict XVI andPope Francis share a pizza and drinkFanta.^[11]
• The room is mentioned inseason 1 ofAmerican Horror Story as being a room where some kind of secret related to the anti-Christ is revealed to the pope.
• The room makes an appearance in the 2024 filmConclave.

• Index of Vatican City–related articles
• Bridge of Sighs

• Sistine Chapel

• Articles with short description
• Short description is different from Wikidata
• Articles containing Italian-language text