Latest news with #ApostolicPalace
The Independent
8 hours ago
- Lifestyle
- The Independent
Pope Leo to live in Vatican ‘flatshare' when he moves into papal apartments
Pope Leo XIV is planning to invite a number of potential 'flatmates' to live with him when he moves into the papal apartments later this year, according to reports. Days after his election, the Pope announced he would live in apartments in the 16th-century Apostolic Palace, unlike his predecessor Pope Francis. Ten rooms are being renovated, ready for three or four of his brethren to move in with him, local media outlet La Repubblica reported. Father Edgard Rimaycuna, the Pope's Peruvian personal secretary is among those expected to be invited. It is thought to be the first time in modern history a pope will share the palace's third-floor living quarters. '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.' On the 13 May, just days after being elected, the Pope vowed never to give up being an Augustinian, a religious order which cherishes community living. 'I will have to give up many things,' said Leo XIV after celebrating mass and lunching with his brethren. 'My life has changed, but I will never give up being an Augustinian.' This led to the plans to bring a small community of Augustinians with him to the luxurious Apostolic Palace, La Repubblica reported. Despite the late pope not living there, seals were placed on the doors of the apartment on 21 April after he died in keeping with tradition. Francis spent the years of his pontificate in the simply furnished Santa Marta residence in the Vatican, preferring 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.' It is tradition for new popes to renovate the papal apartments, which have been the official residence of popes since 1870. The Vatican has given few details about the latest work, but technicians have spent months repairing water and humidity damage accumulated over 12 years of vacancy. A cornice also reportedly detached from a kitchen window earlier this year, prompting urgent repairs. The apartments include the pope's bedroom, private study, and medical suite, and the Sunday blessing of pilgrims gathering in St Peter's Square is delivered from its window. Pope Leo currently resides in the nearby Sagrestia building. Father James Martin previously called Leo's return to the apartments a prudent decision on X, formerly Twitter. Three of the last six popes - John XXIII, John Paul I, and John Paul II - died in the apartments.
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Lifestyle
- Daily Mail
Heavenly housemate! Pope Leo moves in to a palatial Vatican flatshare with pals
Pope Leo XIV is said to be planning to ask a number of to-be 'flatmates' if they want to live with him when he moves into the papal apartments later this year. Days after his election, the Pope announced he would live in the luxurious Papal apartments in Rome's Apostolic Palace, unlike his predecessor Pope Francis. The 10 rooms inside the 16th-century apartment are currently being renovated, with three or four of his brethren set to move in with him, La Repubblica reported on Tuesday. The Pope's Peruvian personal secretary, Father Edgard Rimaycuna, is expected to be one of those to live alongside him. It will be the first time in modern history that a pope will share his official living quarters on the third floor of the palace. Vatican correspondent Iacopo Scaramuzzi told the Telegraph: 'It seems to be new to me. I don't know if that takes account of the long history of the church but certainly in the modern era.' Despite the late pope not living there, the seal was placed on the doors of the apartment on April 21 immediately after Francis's death, in keeping with tradition. Rather than taking up residence in the luxurious Papal apartments in Rome's Apostolic Palace, the former Pontiff chose to move into the Casa Santa Marta guesthouse and live as frugally as possible. '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 added that it is unclear who the Pope will choose, but stressed it was in keeping with the sense of community brought about by Leo's Augustinian Order. The apartments have been the official residence of popes since 1870, and it is usual for the new pope to renovate the apartments. Work has taken place over the past months on a redesign of the rooms, as well as fixing damage caused by water infiltration and humidity in the 12 years the apartment was empty. The Pope traditionally blesses crowds of pilgrims gathering in St Peter's Square on Sundays from the window of the apartment. Out of the last six popes, three of them, John XXIII, John Paul I, and John Paul II, died inside the papal apartments. Father James Martin, an American Jesuit journalist, described Pope Leo's return to the apartments as a prudent decision. The author wrote on X earlier this year: 'Leo's move should not be taken as a sign either of a critique of Pope Francis or as him not living "simply" 'We need to trust Pope Leo's discernment in this and all things – and wish him well in his new digs!' For 12 years, he lived just steps from St Peter's Square in the Curia of the St Augustinian Order while serving as prior-general between 2001 and 2013. He often spoke of the value of living side-by-side with others in a religious community. The American Pope is currently living in the Sagrestia building, right next to St Peter's Basilica, while his papal apartment undergoes renovation. This summer, he also resurrected a tradition abandoned by his predecessor — retreating to the papal summer residence at Castel Gandolfo. The hilltop palace, perched above the sparkling waters of Lake Albano, once served as a sanctuary for pontiffs escaping the sweltering Roman heat. The Pope spent several days there in July, before returning again in August for another brief stay. Last Sunday, he shared lunch with more than 100 homeless people while celebrating Mass before visiting a local shrine in the town of Albano. The Vatican has been approached for comment by the Daily Mail.
Telegraph
a day ago
- General
- Telegraph
Pope Leo to move in with ‘flatmates' in Vatican redesign
Pope Leo XIV will invite a select number of 'flatmates' to move in with him when he occupies the papal apartments later this year, according to an Italian media report. 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!'
CTV News
20-07-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
Pope Leo XIV renews his call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza
A gust of wind blows Pope Leo XIV's mantel at the end of the noon Angelus prayer in the square in front of the Apostolic Palace in Castel Gandolfo, Italy, Sunday, July 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy — Pope Leo XIV renewed his call on Sunday for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, asking the international community to respect international laws and the obligation to protect civilians. 'I once again call for an immediate end to the barbarity of this war and for a peaceful resolution to the conflict,' the pontiff said at the end of his Sunday Angelus prayer from his summer retreat in Castel Gandolfo. Pope Leo also expressed his 'deep sorrow' for the Israeli attack on the only Catholic church in the Gaza Strip on Thursday, which killed three people and wounded 10 others, including the parish priest. 'I appeal to the international community to observe humanitarian law and respect the obligation to protect civilians as well as the prohibition of collective punishment, the indiscriminate use of force, and the forced displacement of populations,' the pope added. The shelling of the Holy Family Catholic Church in Gaza also damaged the church compound, where hundreds of Palestinians have been sheltering from the Israel-Hamas war, now in its 21st month. Israel expressed regret over what it described as an accident and said it was investigating. 'We need to dialogue and abandon weapons,' the pope said earlier Sunday, after presiding over Mass at the nearby Cathedral of Albano. 'The world no longer tolerates war,' Leo told reporters waiting for him outside the cathedral.
Malay Mail
14-07-2025
- Politics
- Malay Mail
Pope Leo draws crowds to hilltop Italian village for first Angelus prayer, wishes peace for victims of war
CASTEL GANDOLFO (Italy), July 14 — Thousands of people streamed to a small Italian hilltop village not far from Rome yesterday, to hear Pope Leo deliver his first Angelus prayer from his summer residence at Castel Gandolfo. 'I am happy to be among you... and thank you all for your warm welcome,' the Pope declared, standing outside the gates of the Apostolic Palace, flanked by two Swiss Guards in full dress uniform. Arriving on July 6, Leo is taking a two-week break at the Castel Gandolfo, some 20 kilometres southeast of Rome, reviving it as a summer papal residence. His predecessor, Pope Francis, preferred to stay at the Vatican for the summer. Undeterred by rainy weather, thousands of people crowded the streets of the village, perched on a hilltop and overlooking a lake, to get a glimpse of the new pope as he delivered for the first time the Angelus prayer, which popes usually deliver every Sunday. The pope presided over mass in the Church of Saint Thomas of Villanova, before crossing the square to the cheers of the crowd. 'Let us not forget to pray for peace and for all those who find themselves in suffering and need because of war,' he said. — AFP
