Return To Tradition: Pope Leo XIV To Reportedly Live In The Apostolic Palace

Pope Leo XIV is reportedly set to reside in the Apostolic Palace, the historic residence of popes for centuries, according to reports.

After being elected Thursday as the 267th supreme pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Leo XIV, whose name is Robert F. Prevost, has chosen to call the papal apartments within the Apostolic Palace his home, according to El Mundo, a Spanish newspaper. (RELATED: Here’s What We Know About First American Pope)

BREAKING: Pope Leo XIV will live in the Apostolic Palace at the Vatican. (Pope Francis decided to live at the Santa Marta House- a hotel inside Vatican City.) pic.twitter.com/sacbXfaRZm

— Raymond Arroyo (@RaymondArroyo) May 10, 2025

Starting with Pius IX in 1870, the pope has traditionally lived in the papal residence, which was officially built in 1605, according to a BBC report. The papal apartment has more than a dozen rooms, staff residences and a grand view overlooking the city of Rome.

Pope Francis — who preceded Pope Leo XIV and passed away on April 21 — broke this tradition when he was elected in 2013 and opted to live in the Casa Santa Marta, the Vatican guesthouse where he was staying during the conclave.

“This room where we are now was a guest room. I chose to live here, in Room 201, because when I took possession of the papal apartment, inside myself I distinctly heard a ‘no’,” Pope Francis said during a 2013 interview explaining why he chose not to live in the papal residence.

For all those worried about Pope Leo moving into the Apostolic Palace after Pope Francis in “humility” moved into the hotel built in the 1990s- here’s the deal: the Pope’s room at the Palace is hardly grand. The photo(on the left) of brass bed was Pope Benedict’s room there. The… pic.twitter.com/fmGzLiYMsr

— Raymond Arroyo (@RaymondArroyo) May 10, 2025

“The papal apartment in the Apostolic Palace is not luxurious. It is old, tastefully decorated and large, but not luxurious,” he went on to say.

Pope Francis also added the tight entrance of the papal residence would have made it more difficult for him to live his life surrounded by people.

The BBC noted at the time that Pope Francis’ decision to opt for a modest living arrangement was a big deal, as it showed his “austere reputation.”