Pope Leo to move in with ‘flatmates' in Vatican redesign
The Pope announced he would live inside the apartments of the 16th Century Apostolic Palace days after his election, breaking with his predecessor Pope Francis, who rejected the luxurious accommodation.
The 10 rooms of the apartment are being extensively renovated for Pope Leo, La Repubblica reported on Tuesday, with three or four of his brethren set to live alongside him. Among those expected to be invited are Father Edgard Rimaycuna, the Pope's Peruvian personal secretary.
It appeared to mark the first time in modern history that a pope would share his official living quarters on the third floor of the palace.
'It seems to be new to me,' Vatican correspondent Iacopo Scaramuzzi told The Telegraph. 'I don't know if that takes account of the long history of the church but certainly in the modern era.'
In keeping with tradition, seals were placed on the doors of the apartment on April 21 immediately after Francis's death, even though the late pope never lived there.
Francis spent the 12 years of his pontificate in the simply furnished Santa Marta residence inside the Vatican instead because he said he preferred daily contact with ordinary people.
'In my opinion, Leo is definitely different to Francis but not that different,' Mr Scaramuzzi said. 'He is returning to the papal apartments, but not like a king.'
Mr Scaramuzzi said it was unclear whom the Pope's companions might be, but stressed it was in keeping with the sense of community engendered by Leo's Augustinian Order.
Residence renovated according to papal taste
The apartments have been the official residence of popes since 1870 and it is customary for a new pope to renovate the apartments according to his taste.
The Vatican has been tight-lipped about the latest restructure, but teams of technicians have spent months working on a redesign of the rooms, as well as damage caused by water infiltration and humidity in the 12 years the apartment remained empty.
A cornice also reportedly became detached from one of the kitchen windows earlier this year and workers were sent to prevent it from causing further damage.
On Sundays the Pope traditionally blesses crowds of pilgrims gathering in St Peter's Square from the window of the apartment, which includes the pope's bedroom, a private study and a medical suite. Three of the last six popes, John XXIII, John Paul I, and John Paul II, died inside the papal apartments.
Earlier this year, the American Jesuit journalist, Father James Martin, said Leo's return to the apartments was a prudent decision.
'Leo's move should not be taken as a sign either of a critique of Pope Francis or as him not living 'simply',' the author wrote on X. 'We need to trust Pope Leo's discernment in this and all things – and wish him well in his new digs!'
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