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Suite in
Domus Santa Marta hotel-style residence which the new Pope Francis has opted to remain in rather than move to more lavish quarters in the Apostolic
Pope
Francis has decided to shun a grand papal apartment on the top floor of the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace in favour of a modest two-room residence. |
His
spokesman said he was “trying out this type of simple living” in a
communal building with other priests.
spokesman said he was “trying out this type of simple living” in a
communal building with other priests.
In doing
so he has broken a tradition which is more than a century old, reports the BBC.
so he has broken a tradition which is more than a century old, reports the BBC.
The
decision reinforces the newly-elected Pope’s austere reputation. As archbishop
of Buenos Aires he refused to move into the Bishop’s Palace.
decision reinforces the newly-elected Pope’s austere reputation. As archbishop
of Buenos Aires he refused to move into the Bishop’s Palace.
Preferring
more modest accommodation, he also often cooked his own meals.
more modest accommodation, he also often cooked his own meals.
Since
the reign of Pope Pius X at the beginning of the 20th Century every pope has
occupied the palatial penthouse apartment with more than a dozen rooms, staff
quarters, a terrace and extensive views over the city of Rome.
the reign of Pope Pius X at the beginning of the 20th Century every pope has
occupied the palatial penthouse apartment with more than a dozen rooms, staff
quarters, a terrace and extensive views over the city of Rome.
But
since his election Pope Francis has been living in a simple two-room suite in
the Domus Santa Marta – a hotel-style residence built by Pope John Paul II next
to St Peter’s Basilica.
since his election Pope Francis has been living in a simple two-room suite in
the Domus Santa Marta – a hotel-style residence built by Pope John Paul II next
to St Peter’s Basilica.
And he
intends to go on living there for the foreseeable future, according to the
Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi.
intends to go on living there for the foreseeable future, according to the
Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi.
“This
morning he let his fellow cardinals know that he will keep living with them for
a certain period of time,” Lombardi said.
morning he let his fellow cardinals know that he will keep living with them for
a certain period of time,” Lombardi said.
He said
he could not say whether the Pope would remain in these quarters in the long
term.
he could not say whether the Pope would remain in these quarters in the long
term.
“It
is still a period of getting used to things,” Lombardi added.
is still a period of getting used to things,” Lombardi added.
Pope
Francis will continue to use the papal library on the second floor of the
Apostolic palace for receiving official guests and will appear on Sundays at
the window used by previous popes to address pilgrims in St Peters Square.
Francis will continue to use the papal library on the second floor of the
Apostolic palace for receiving official guests and will appear on Sundays at
the window used by previous popes to address pilgrims in St Peters Square.
About
half the 105 suites in the residence are occupied by Vatican staff, who had to
move out of their rooms to accommodate visiting cardinals during the holding of
the recent conclave at which Pope Francis was elected.
half the 105 suites in the residence are occupied by Vatican staff, who had to
move out of their rooms to accommodate visiting cardinals during the holding of
the recent conclave at which Pope Francis was elected.
The Pope
will take his meals in the communal dining room together with other visiting
clerics and permanent residents.
will take his meals in the communal dining room together with other visiting
clerics and permanent residents.
His
simple new communal home contrasts with the much larger accommodation currently
being renovated inside the Vatican for the future use of the now retired former
Pope Benedict and his staff, reports the BBC’s David Willey in Rome.
simple new communal home contrasts with the much larger accommodation currently
being renovated inside the Vatican for the future use of the now retired former
Pope Benedict and his staff, reports the BBC’s David Willey in Rome.
