Pope Leo Xiv New Residence was formally taken up on Saturday afternoon, March 14, when the pontiff moved, accompanied by some of his closest collaborators, into the rooms of the Apostolic Palace long used by his predecessors, the Holy See press office confirmed.
Pope Leo Xiv New Residence: Move Confirmed And Apartment Details
The Holy See press office confirmed that on Saturday afternoon, March 14 the pope took possession of the papal apartment in the Apostolic Palace and relocated with members of his immediate team into those spaces. The apartment, now renovated, sits in the Third Loggia of the Apostolic Palace and includes a private study room from which the pope appears at the window for the Angelus in St. Peter’s Square, a library and a small chapel.
The press office also noted that the first pope to reside in the Third Loggia rooms was Saint Pius X (1903–1914). The move places the pontiff back into suites historically associated with the papacy.
Why The Apartment Required Work
The papal apartments had been eschewed by the late pope, who chose to live at Casa Santa Marta rather than occupy the traditional residence. That choice left the historic rooms unused and they subsequently required extensive renovation before they could be reoccupied.
Seals had been placed on the door of the papal apartment on 21 April following the death of Pope Francis. It is noted that on 11 May 2025 Leo XIV removed those seals.
Practical Arrangements And What Changed
Before moving to the Apostolic Palace apartments, the pope had lived in the Vatican’s Palazzo del Sant’Uffizio while serving as Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops. During an interim period he also stayed at the Palace of the Holy Office, where he had lived previously as a cardinal. For the move into the Apostolic Palace, he brought some of his closest collaborators into the renewed spaces.
Separately, the pope has resumed use of the papal summer residence at Castel Gandolfo. He spends most Tuesdays there, combining leisure activities such as tennis and swimming with his official work.
The reoccupation of the Apostolic Palace apartments restores a long-standing residential pattern for holders of the office and returns functional spaces — including the study used for the Angelus and a private chapel — to active use. Church officials have presented the relocation as a practical step following renovation; further developments about living arrangements or official schedules will be announced by the Holy See as they are finalized.
