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Time of India
14-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
Inside Pope Leo XIV's new home: What life is like in the Apostolic Palace
Image credits: Getty Images After the death of late Pope Francis in April, the papal apartments in the Apostolic Palace were sealed, as a part of a ritual that symbolises the papal throne is empty and secures his personal papers. With the election of the new Pope of the Catholic Church, Pope Leo XIV , the seals on these apartments were removed on Sunday, signalling that he is ready to move in. It's been a decade since the apartments in the palace have been occupied. Francis himself lived in a modest Vatican guest house rather than the traditional residence. While Pope Leo could follow in his predecessor's footsteps, he could also prefer residing in the palace in the Vatican City . How is the Apostolic Palace? Image credits: Getty Images The Apostolic Palace, also called the Papal Palace, is considered to be the traditional residence of the Pope and is a building that dates back to the 15th century, when it was created by architect Donato Bramante in the High Renaissance style. However, it became the official residence of the popes in the 17th century. Image credits: Getty Images The palace holds many offices of the pope, museums, the Vatican Library and chapels, including the famous Sistine Chapel . It is located just above the colonnade of St Pete's Square and includes the iconic window from which the Angelus is traditionally delivered. In total, the palace has a whopping 1,000 rooms, including a sitting room, a study bedroom, and a medical clinic. Image credits: Getty Images In newly released photographs of the Apostolic Palace, taken when the apartments were reopened on Sunday, people got to see new areas such as the third floor, also known as the Third Loggia, the pope's future living quarters, the library, and the private chapels in the apartments. Where will Pope Leo reside? Image credits: Getty Images Pope Leo seems to have a similar view on his residency to that of his predecessor Pope Francis, who valued a humble life in a Vatican guest house rather than a grand one at the palace. In a recent interview with the Vatican News, Pope Leo said, "bishop is not supposed to be a little prince sitting in his kingdom, but rather called authentically to be humble, to be close to the people he serves, to walk with them and to suffer with them. " Thus, there could be a higher probability of him also residing in the Vatican guest house.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Where Will Pope Leo XIV, the First American Pope, Call Home?
As Pope Leo XIV settles into his new role as leader of 1.3 billion Catholics worldwide, his decision about where to hang his zucchetto might reveal more about his papacy than any formal announcement. Will the former Cardinal Robert Prevost continue his predecessor's rejection of papal pomp by remaining in the modest Vatican guesthouse? Or will tradition call him back to the Apostolic Palace that housed pontiffs for centuries before Francis's revolutionary choice? The answer could define his papacy before it truly begins. For over a century, the Apostolic Palace served as the traditional papal residence. This complex wraps around the Courtyard of Sixtus V on the third floor of the Vatican's administrative building. The papal apartments include approximately ten rooms: a vestibule, offices, the pope's private study and bedroom, a medical suite, dining room, living room, kitchen, and even a roof garden. The palace is essentially the Vatican's White House—not just a residence but the center of Church governance, housing offices, chapels, museums, and the Vatican Library, including the famed Sistine Chapel. When Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio became Pope Francis in 2013, he shocked Vatican traditionalists by declining to move into the papal apartments. Instead, he chose to remain in Suite 201 at Casa Santa Marta (Domus Sanctae Marthae), the Vatican guesthouse where cardinals stay during conclaves. His modest 70-square-meter suite offered basic amenities with a slightly more elegant living area for receiving guests. The five-story building includes 106 mini-suites, each with a sitting room, bedroom, and private bathroom. This housing choice perfectly aligned with Francis's emphasis on humility and accessibility. By taking meals in the common dining room and celebrating morning Mass in the guest chapel, he maintained daily contact with ordinary clergy and visitors, avoiding the isolation that can come with high office. While the answer is unconfirmed, signs point toward continuity with Francis's humble approach. As Cardinal Robert Prevost, Leo XIV was a key figure in Pope Francis's administration, leading the team that selected new bishops and implementing significant reforms that aligned with Francis's vision for the Church. His role as Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops placed him squarely in Francis's inner circle, where he carried out the former pope's vision for a more inclusive Church. Those who know Leo XIV consistently describe him as humble and unassuming. Archbishop George Thomas of Las Vegas, who met with Leo in Rome in 2023, noted: "He is a man who wielded significant influence during Pope Francis's tenure, yet he does not project that power in public." Thomas even recounted that during their lunch at the Vatican, Leo's "attire and manner were reminiscent of a parish priest coming to offer congratulations," rather than displaying the trappings of his high office. Before his elevation, Leo spent significant time as a missionary in Peru, where according to his former roommate Father John Leydon, he "cared deeply about the poor." Leydon describes the new pope as a "bridge-builder" who promotes dialogue between different perspectives. Despite being American-born, Leydon notes that Leo XIV is "probably the least American of the American cardinals" because he worked primarily in Latin America and Rome rather than the United States. In his own words, Leo XIV has emphasized the importance of humility for Church leaders: "The bishop is not supposed to be a little prince sitting in his kingdom. But rather called authentically to be humble, to be close to the people he serves, to walk with them, to suffer with them." Given Leo's background as an Augustinian (following the rule of Saint Augustine), his commitment to simplicity appears deeply rooted in his spiritual formation. He has previously stated, "We as Augustinians, again as a mendicant order, I think are called to live in a simple life at the service of others and in a special way to reach out to those who are poor." Whatever Leo XIV decides, his choice carries symbolism. The Apostolic Palace represents tradition, institutional power, and the Church's historical grandeur. Casa Santa Marta embodies simplicity, accessibility, and community living. For now, as cardinals and Vatican staff adjust to new leadership, the papal housing question remains unanswered. But in a Church where symbols matter deeply, Leo XIV's home may well be his most telling statement of purpose. You Might Also Like From the Archive: Tour Sarah Jessica Parker's Relaxed Hamptons Retreat 75 Small (But Mighty) Kitchens to Steal Inspiration from Right This Instant
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
The art of Pope Francis: What was the Catholic spiritual leader's cultural legacy?
When Pope Francis died on Easter Monday at the age of 88, headlines understandably focused on his role as a global spiritual leader. As the proprietor in trust of the Vatican's library and art collections, his cultural legacy — especially in the arts — was also significant. He was the first pontiff to visit the Venice Biennale, the world's most prestigious contemporary art exhibition. He also opened a gallery for contemporary art inside the Vatican Library, made high-profile statements on cultural restitution, and repeatedly invoked the power of creativity to forge human connection. Francis saw artists, in his own words, as architects of a better future: 'I beg you, dear artists, to imagine cities that do not yet exist on the maps: cities where no human being is considered a stranger.' His views on art were deeply shaped by the saint whose name he adopted. Like St Francis of Assisi — who appears frequently in Renaissance painting, preaching to birds or receiving the stigmata — Pope Francis was drawn to nature, poverty, and pastoral simplicity. His 2015 encyclical on climate change, Laudato Si', took its name from St Francis's Canticle of the Creatures, and cited Giotto's frescoes in Assisi as inspiration. But for all his spiritual leanings, Francis didn't keep art in the realm of the abstract. In 2023, he returned three fragments of the Parthenon sculptures to Greece, saying bluntly: 'The Seventh Commandment comes to mind: If you steal something you have to give it back.' He continued, 'In the case where you can return things, where it's necessary to make a gesture, better to do it. [...] So you don't get used to putting your hands in someone else's pockets.' The restitution was framed as a 'donation' to the Orthodox Church of Greece and timed with his efforts to deepen ecumenical relations. During a 2021 visit to the Parthenon, Francis said: 'History makes its weight felt, and here, today, I feel the need to ask anew for the forgiveness of God and of our brothers and sisters for the mistakes committed by many Catholics.' Furthermore, Francis extolled the power of art — and artists themselves — in societal transformation. In Venice in 2024, he arrived at a women's prison on Giudecca island, where the Holy See Pavilion had been set up as part of the Biennale. Some works on display were created with inmates. In his remarks, Francis cited Corita Kent, Frida Kahlo and Louise Bourgeois as artists who had 'something important to teach us,' and praised the transformative power of creativity: 'The world needs artists. This is demonstrated by the multitude of people of all ages who frequent art venues and events.' That year's Biennale, themed Foreigners Everywhere, had a particular focus on marginalised voices. The pope's visit, said the Biennale organisers, was an 'extraordinary gesture of closeness' and reflected 'the building of a culture of encounter'. Beyond the Biennale, he personally authorised major art restoration projects and continued the acquisition of contemporary works—a tradition that dates back to Pope Paul VI. The Vatican's collections now include works by Chagall, Picasso, Dalí and Matisse, alongside biblical interpretations by more recent artists like Studio Azzurro and Richard Long. In 2023, the National Gallery in London staged the first UK exhibition dedicated to St Francis. The pope sent a message, describing the saint as 'the beloved minstrel of God.' That show blended historic works by Botticelli and El Greco with modern interpretations by artists like Antony Gormley. The gallery's director Gabriele Finaldi noted that St Francis appeals 'for Christians and non-Christians alike, for utopians and revolutionaries, for animal lovers and for those who work for causes of human solidarity.' Still, Francis' cultural tenure was not without criticism. In 2024, nearly 50 Vatican Museum workers filed a class-action complaint against the administration, alleging poor working conditions and unsafe practices. The petition described employees as being treated like 'commodities' and called for better transparency and basic labour protections. The case remains ongoing, but it undercut the Vatican's image as a moral steward of world heritage. Whether viewed as sincere or strategic, his approach brought the Vatican into fresh dialogue with the contemporary world, from the Giudecca prison to the halls of London's National Gallery.
CairoScene
27-01-2025
- General
- CairoScene
Vatican Artifacts Featured at Jeddah's Islamic Arts Biennale
The exhibition includes works from over 30 cultural institutions and 29 new artworks. A six-metre map of the Nile, dated to around 1685 and restored by the Vatican, is being exhibited for the first time outside its archives at the second Islamic Arts Biennale in Jeddah. The event, organised by the Diriyah Biennale Foundation, features over 500 historical artifacts and contemporary artworks at the Western Hajj Terminal. The Nile map, created with watercolour ink on Venetian paper, is displayed alongside 10 other artefacts from the Vatican Library and a map of the Arabian Gulf from Qatar's National Library. Both maps were acquired in the 1700s in Constantinople by Giuseppe Alemanni, a Lebanese librarian who later became the Vatican Library's prefect. The biennale, with the theme 'And all that is in between', takes inspiration from a Qur'anic verse and explores faith through contemporary and historical works. Sections include 'The Art of Numbers', which examines the role of numerology in Islamic culture and features items from 20 global institutions, including early Qur'anic manuscripts and translations from the Vatican Library. This year's exhibition includes contributions from over 30 cultural institutions and 29 newly commissioned artworks. The event will run until May 25th, 2025.
