Vatican City – Pope Leo XIV has officially moved into the newly renovated papal apartment in the Apostolic Palace, taking up residence in the traditional quarters that were famously eschewed by his predecessor, Pope Francis.
Okay News reports that the pontiff and his closest aides relocated to the third-floor flat overlooking St. Peter’s Square on Saturday.
The move comes after 10 months of extensive renovations to bring the apartment’s plumbing, electrical, and utility systems up to standard. The historic residence had sat vacant for 12 years during Pope Francis’s papacy, as he preferred the simpler, communal environment of the Vatican’s Santa Marta hotel to avoid the traditional pomp of the office.
Since his election last May following Francis’s death in April, Leo XIV had been living in a small flat in the Palazzo del Sant’Uffizio.
The new pope has made it clear that he is more comfortable embracing the traditional garb and customs of the papacy, and his return to the Apostolic Palace has drawn praise from conservative commentators who view the decision as a profound sign of respect for the office.
