Thepapal apartments is the non-official designation for the collection ofapartments, which are private, state, and religious, that wrap around acourtyard (the Courtyard ofSixtus V,Cortile di Sisto V)[1] on two sides of the third (top) floor[2] of theApostolic Palace inVatican City.[3][4]
Since the 17th century, the papal apartments have been theofficial residence of the pope in his religious capacity (assupreme pontiff). Prior to 1870, the pope's official residence in histemporal capacity (assovereign of thePapal States) was theQuirinal Palace, which is now the official residence of thepresident of the Italian Republic. The papal apartments are referred to inItalian by several terms, includingappartamento nobile andappartamento pontificio.[1]
The apartments include about ten rooms consisting of avestibule, a smallstudiooffice for the papal secretary, the pope's privatestudy, the pope's bedroom in the corner of the building, a medical suite (which includesdental equipment and equipment foremergency surgery), adining room, a smallliving room, and akitchen.[4] There is aroof garden and staff quarters for the housekeepers. It is from the window of his small study that the pope greets and blessespilgrims toSaint Peter's Square on Sundays.[3][4] The privatelibrary has been described as a "vast room with twowindows overlooking Saint Peter's Square." The pope's private chapel occupies the top storey on the east side of theCortile di Sisto V.
The pope usually lives at the papal apartments except for the months of July to September, when thePapal Palace of Castel Gandolfo is the official summer residence.[3] Three of the last six popes,John XXIII,John Paul I, andJohn Paul II, died in the papal apartments; the fourth,Paul VI, died at Castel Gandolfo; the fifth,Benedict XVI, died atMater Ecclesiae Monastery, his home after his resignation in 2013; and the sixth,Francis, died atDomus Sanctae Marthae, where he lived throughout his pontificate.[5][6]
PopeLeo XIV announced he would follow the tradition of many predecessors and take up residence in the papal apartments.[7][8]
The papal apartments are customarily renovated according to each new pope's preferences.
Prior to the renovation in 2005, following thedeath of Pope John Paul II and the election ofPope Benedict XVI, the papal apartments had reportedly been in disrepair, with "outmoded furnishings and lack of lighting" and large drums placed in thefalse ceiling to catch water leaks. The 2005 renovation, carried out over three months while Benedict was in summer residence atCastel Gandolfo, included the building of a new library to accommodate Benedict's 20,000 books (placed in exactly the same order as in his previous residence), upgrading the electrical wiring (125-volt electrical outlets, phased out in Italy years prior, were replaced with 220-volt outlets) and plumbing (new pipes were installed to replace those "encrusted with rust and lime").[4] The heating system was repaired and the kitchen was refurbished, reportedly with new ovens, ranges, and other appliances donated by a German company.[2] The floors, which are 16th-century marble slabs and inlay, were restored.[4] The medical studio ("hastily installed in the papal lodgings for the ailing John Paul II") was renovated and expanded to include dental facilities,[2] and the papal bedroom was completely redone. Wallpaper and other furnishings were put in throughout. The project was carried out by over 200 architects, engineers, and workers.[4] Benedict also moved personal possessions to the papal apartments, including anupright piano.[3]
PopeLeo XIV is expected to move in after renovations are complete, which reportedly will include modernization of the bathroom and fixingdampness in the walls.[8]
The 88-year-old pope, revered by millions of Catholics around the world, died at 7.35am in his apartment at Casa Santa Marta on Monday. His cause of death was confirmed through an ECG test, the Vatican said.
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41°54′13″N012°27′23″E / 41.90361°N 12.45639°E /41.90361; 12.45639
