Michael Brooks
The Pope is the head of the Catholic Church and the sovereign of Vatican City, a small city-state located in the heart of Rome. Since 1870, the papal residence has been the Apostolic Palace in Vatican City. However, Pope Francis has chosen to live in a suite in the Vatican guesthouse, Domus Sanctae Marthae, instead of the papal apartments in the Apostolic Palace.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Pope Francis's residence | Domus Sanctae Marthae (also known as Casa Santa Marta or St. Martha's House) |
| Location of residence | Vatican City |
| Type of residence | Guesthouse for cardinals during conclaves |
| Reason for choice of residence | Pope Francis wanted to "live in community with others" and preferred a more simple and humble lifestyle |
| Number of rooms in the residence | 105 two-room suites and 26 single rooms |
| Description of Pope Francis's suite | A two-room suite consisting of a sitting area with chairs, a sofa, a desk, a bookcase, and a crucifix, as well as a monastic bedroom with a dark wooden bed, wardrobe, and nightstand |
| Previous papal residence | Apostolic Palace (also known as the Papal Palace, the Palace of the Vatican, or the Vatican Palace) |
| Location of previous residence | Vatican City |
| Description of previous residence | A massive complex with over 1,000 rooms, containing the papal apartments, various offices, chapels, museums, and the Vatican Library |
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What You'll Learn
Pope Francis's residence: Domus Sanctae Marthae
Pope Francis has lived in the Domus Sanctae Marthae, a guesthouse in Vatican City, since his election in March 2013. The Domus Sanctae Marthae, or St. Martha's House, was built in 1996 to house cardinals during conclaves. It is a five-story building with 105 two-room suites and 26 single rooms. Each suite has a sitting room, a bedroom, and a private bathroom. The pope's suite, which he initially shared with other cardinals, is furnished with basic necessities, including a wooden standing crucifix and a small statue of Our Lady of Luján, the Marian patroness of Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay.
Pope Francis's decision to live in the Domus Sanctae Marthae broke with more than a century of tradition. Since 1870, the Apostolic Palace in Vatican City has been the official residence of the Pope, the head of the Catholic Church. The Apostolic Palace contains the papal apartments, various offices of the Catholic Church and the Holy See, private and public chapels, the Vatican Museums, and the Vatican Library, including the Sistine Chapel, Raphael Rooms, and the Borgia Apartments. The papal apartments themselves occupy the third (top) floor of the Apostolic Palace, wrapping around the Courtyard of Sixtus V. They include a chapel, multiple offices, the pope's bedroom, a dining room, kitchen, and additional rooms for secretaries and household staff.
Pope Francis chose to live in the Domus Sanctae Marthae to embrace a simpler and more humble lifestyle, and to live in community with others. As archbishop of Buenos Aires, he had similarly refused to occupy the grand Bishop's Palace, preferring more modest quarters and often cooking his own meals. His decision to live in the Domus Sanctae Marthae became emblematic of his papacy, which was defined by humility, accessibility, and a determined rejection of clericalism.
While the Apostolic Palace is the official residence of the Pope, other papal residences have existed throughout history. One of the pope’s residences in the past was the Palais de Papes in Avignon, France, which served as a residence for the popes from 1309 to 1377 during the Avignon papacy. The Lateran Palace in Rome was also a papal residence from the early 4th century until 1304.
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Apostolic Palace: The official residence of the Pope
The Apostolic Palace, also known as the Papal Palace, the Palace of the Vatican, and the Vatican Palace, is the official residence of the Pope, the head of the Catholic Church. It is located in Vatican City, northeast of St. Peter's Basilica. The construction of the palace began in 1471 and was completed in 1605, although it has been modified and renovated over the years.
The Apostolic Palace is a massive complex covering 162,000 square meters (1,743,753 square feet) and containing over 1,000 rooms. It is not just the residence of the Pope but also houses various apartments, museums, offices, and chapels. The palace is home to the Papal Apartments, which are located on the third (top) floor and wrap around the Courtyard of Sixtus V. The apartments include a chapel, multiple offices, the pope's bedroom, a dining room, a kitchen, and rooms for secretaries and household staff.
The Apostolic Palace also includes the Vatican Library, which features notable rooms such as the Raphael Rooms, the Borgia Apartments, and the Sistine Chapel. The Raphael Rooms are famous for their paintings and architecture by the artist Raphael and his studio, while the Borgia Apartments are known for their frescoes by Pinturicchio. The Sistine Chapel houses important works of art such as The Vision of the Cross and The Fire in the Borgo.
The palace serves as both a residence and a site for administrative functions of the Holy See. It is comparable to the White House in its dual nature, exercising various economic, political, and social responsibilities as a state. The palace is open to tourists, with around 20 rooms accessible to the public, although some areas such as the Sala Regia and Cappella Paolina remain closed to visitors.
While the Apostolic Palace is the official residence of the Pope, it is worth noting that Pope Francis chose not to reside in the papal apartments. Instead, he lived in a suite in the Domus Sanctae Marthae (St. Martha's House), a guesthouse in Vatican City. This decision broke with tradition and reflected his commitment to simplicity and humility.
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Pope Francis's decision to not live in the Apostolic Palace
The Apostolic Palace is the official residence of the Pope, located in Vatican City. It has been the home of all popes since 1870, with the exception of Pope Francis. Instead, Pope Francis chose to live in the Vatican guesthouse, Domus Sanctae Marthae, or Casa Santa Marta, where cardinals stay during conclaves.
The pope explained that the residence in the Apostolic Palace was "tastefully decorated and large, but not luxurious," and that he could not live without people. He preferred the simple living that the guesthouse offered, allowing him to live in community with others. This decision was not entirely surprising given his past; as archbishop of Buenos Aires, he had refused to occupy the grand Bishop's Palace, opting for more modest quarters.
The Apostolic Palace contains over 1,000 rooms, including the papal apartments, various offices of the Catholic Church, chapels, museums, and the Vatican Library. The palace is also home to the Sistine Chapel, the Clementine Hall, the Borgia Apartments, and the Raphael Rooms. The papal apartments themselves occupy the third (top) floor and include a chapel, multiple offices, the pope's bedroom, a dining room, kitchen, and additional rooms for staff.
By choosing to live in the guesthouse, Pope Francis transformed the papacy through his living arrangements, reinforcing his reputation for humility, accessibility, and austerity.
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Pope's summer residence: Castel Gandolfo
Pope Francis and his predecessors have had a summer residence in Castel Gandolfo, a small Roman town with a rich history dating back to the Italic tribes. The Apostolic Palace of Castel Gandolfo, also known as the Pontifical Villas, has served as the summer residence for popes since the early 17th century when Pope Urban VIII initiated its construction.
The palace's design is attributed to Swiss-Italian architect Carlo Maderno, who also designed the facades of St. Peter's Basilica. It was completed around 1626, with the final touches made by Pope Pius XI in the early 20th century. The complex includes impressive Italian gardens, with Villa Cybo and Villa Barberini boasting beautiful outdoor spaces. The gardens of Villa Barberini house the Antiquarium, a collection of artefacts previously owned by Emperor Domitian.
The site has a long history, dating back to ancient times. The Latin city of Alba Longa, the capital of the Latin League, once stood where the villas are now located. Later, Emperor Domitian built the splendid complex of Albanum Domitianim, which served as his summer residence from 81 to 96 AD. The castle eventually came under the ownership of the Apostolic Camera in 1596, setting the stage for Pope Urban VIII's transformation into a papal summer residence.
In recent years, the palace has undergone changes. It opened to the public in 2016, and in 2025, Pope Leo XIV resumed the tradition of using Castel Gandolfo as a summer retreat, staying at the Villa Barberini within the complex. Visitors can now explore the complex with self-guided or guided tours, offering a glimpse into the history and beauty of this former papal summer residence.
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Vatican City: The Pope's ecclesiastical state
Vatican City is a small city-state located in the heart of Rome. It is an ecclesiastical state and the seat of the Roman Catholic Church. Formally, the Pope does not live in Italy, but in Vatican City, of which he is also the sovereign.
The Pope is the bishop of Rome and the head of the Catholic Church. Vatican City is governed by the See of Rome, commonly known as the Holy See, which is a sovereign entity under international law. It maintains its temporal power, governance, diplomacy, and spiritual independence.
The Apostolic Palace, located in Vatican City, has been the official residence of the Pope since 1870. The palace contains the papal apartments, various offices of the Catholic Church, private and public chapels, the Vatican Museums, and the Vatican Library, including the Sistine Chapel, Raphael Rooms, and the Borgia Apartments. The Sistine Chapel, for instance, is famous for its Renaissance frescoes by artists such as Michelangelo, Sandro Botticelli, and Pinturicchio. The Apostolic Palace is also the venue for the election of each successive Pope.
Pope Francis, however, has chosen to live in a suite in the Domus Sanctae Marthae, a guesthouse built in 1996 to accommodate cardinals during a conclave. He is the first Pope in 110 years to opt out of living in the papal apartments in the Apostolic Palace.
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Frequently asked questions
Pope Francis lives in Vatican City, a city-state in the heart of Rome.
No. Pope Francis initially stayed in a Vatican guesthouse called Casa Santa Marta, or Domus Sanctae Marthae, after his election in 2013.
Pope Francis chose to stay in the Casa Santa Marta because he wanted to live in community with others. He is the first Pope to refuse to live in the Papal Apartments since Pope Pius X in 1903.
Traditionally, Popes live in the Apostolic Palace, also known as the Vatican Palace, in Vatican City.
