See inside the pope’s official residence, an expansive apartment with nearly a dozen rooms

After Pope Francis’ death in April, the papal apartments inside the Apostolic Palace were sealed, a ritual that symbolizes the papal throne is empty and secures his personal papers.

On Sunday, those seals were removed, perhaps signaling the new pope is ready to move in.

The apartments haven’t been occupied for over a decade. Pope Francis chose to live in a modest Vatican guest house instead. Pope Leo XIV may follow in his predecessor’s footsteps or opt for the more traditional choice of the Apostolic Palace in Vatican City.

The building dates back to the 15th century and holds offices, museums, a library, and the Sistine Chapel.

Photos show the spacious papal apartments that Pope Leo XIV may call home.

Protocol dictates that the pope’s rooms be sealed after his death. Vatican officials unsealed them on Sunday.

It’s not certain this means the new pope will live in these apartments or choose a more humble abode, as Pope Francis did.

The apartments are located on the third floor of the Apostolic Palace.

Mural maps cover the corridor leading to the apartments. The area is known as the Third Loggia.

Pope Leo visited what could be his new living quarters.

The rooms are spacious, but some areas are not as lavishly decorated as some other parts of the Apostolic Palace.

The new pope also saw the apartment’s private chapel.

In 2004, a photographer captured an image of Pope John Paul II praying for victims of the Madrid bombings in this room.

Popes have often met world leaders in the papal library.

Countless heads of state from Malta, Slovakia, Lebanon, the US, and many other countries have had audiences with the Holy See.

It’s located on the second floor of the palace, the BBC reported in 2013.

In 2020, Pope Francis used the library for his general audiences during the COVID-19 pandemic.

These weekly events gave visitors a chance to see the pope.

About a dozen rooms make up the apartments.

In addition to the library and chapel, there’s a sitting room, study, bedroom, and medical clinic, according to Getty. They surround the Courtyard of Sixtus V.

In 2005, renovations updated the kitchen and clinic, Catholic News reported at the time.

It’s traditional for the pope to live in the papal apartments.

In 1903, Pope Pius X became the first pontiff to live in the apartments. Many were surprised by Pope Francis’ choice to live in Casa Santa Marta, the Vatican guest house, though it was in keeping with his reputation for humility.

Pope Leo seems to share similar views. Recently, he told Vatican News that a “bishop is not supposed to be a little prince sitting in his kingdom, but rather called authentically to be humble, to be close to the people he serves, to walk with them and to suffer with them.”

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