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VATICAN // The Vatican officially reopened the historic papal apartments in the Apostolic Palace in the afternoon of Sunday, May 11, according to a press release from the Vatican Press Office.
The formal ceremony took place after the recitation of the Regina Coeli from the Loggia, presided over by the Holy Father in the presence of the Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell, the Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Substitute for General Affairs, Archbishop Edgar Peña Parra, the Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations, Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, and the Regent of the Pontifical Household, Monsignor Leonardo Sapienza.
The reopening involved the removal of seals that had been affixed on April 21, 2025, following the death of Pope Francis.
The papal apartments, located on the third floor of the Apostolic Palace, have long served as the official residence of the Pope. The suite comprises a dozen rooms, including a library, sitting room, private study, bedroom, infirmary, and private chapel, as well as offices for secretarial staff and spaces for private audiences with heads of state.
For over a century, since Pope Pius X took up residence in 1903, the apartments have been at the heart of Vatican life, serving as both the home and administrative center for successive popes. Pope Francis notably broke with this tradition by choosing to reside at Casa Santa Marta, a guesthouse within Vatican City.
With the papal apartments once again ready for use, attention now turns to whether Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope, will choose to reside there or follow his predecessor’s novel practice.