Pope Leo XIV Returns to the Apostolic Palace: What Decision the Pontiff Reversed.

Pope Leo XIV’s Move to the Apostolic Palace

According to TSN.ua: Pope Leo XIV has relocated to the apartments in the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace, marking a return to a traditional lifestyle after Pope Francis, who lived in a modest residence. Elected to the papacy in May 2025, Leo XIV chose to revive a custom that predated his predecessor.

The residence Leo XIV now occupies consists of about ten rooms and has been in use since 1870. Pope Francis, who served until 2013, preferred the Santa Marta guesthouse, where he lived until his death. Now, under Leo XIV’s new policy, the pope is reverting to a more conventional way of life by taking up residence in the Apostolic Palace.

Rooms in Pope Leo XIV’s Residence

This afternoon, Pope Leo XIV will formally move into his Apostolic Palace apartments, accompanied by his closest aides, taking over spaces previously used by his predecessors. This decision symbolizes a return to the historical traditions of the Roman Catholic Church and highlights a new approach to papal service.

The papal residence: what is known about the apartments now occupied by Leo XIV? The rooms include:

• a chapel
• a vestibule
• a library
• a study
• a dining room
• a bedroom

This setup allows for official receptions and private meetings. By striving to restore traditions, Pope Leo XIV emphasizes the importance of the Roman Catholic Church’s history and heritage in his work.

Leo XIV’s move to the Apostolic Palace marks a significant shift in the pope’s lifestyle, steering the Roman Catholic Church back toward traditional norms that existed before Pope Francis’s era. This could influence how the faithful perceive the church, as the new pope seeks to strengthen ties with its history and legacy, while reviving certain rituals and practices that were forgotten or diminished during the previous papacy. As such, this change may be seen as a signal of Leo XIV’s desire to reinforce the traditions and authority of the Roman Catholic Church in the modern world.