Pope Leo XIV, born Robert Francis Prevost, has chosen to reside in the papal apartments within the Apostolic Palace in Vatican City, marking a return to tradition after Pope Francis’s preference for the Domus Sanctae Marthae guesthouse. The Apostolic Palace, a Renaissance-era complex, has historically served as the official residence for popes. The papal apartments, located on the top floor, comprise approximately ten rooms, including a private study, bedroom, dining room, kitchen, chapel, and a rooftop garden.
The Pope doesn’t have personal property in the conventional sense like owning houses or cars. His residence is in Vatican City, which is provided by the Vatican for his role. However, the Vatican itself, as an institution, owns significant properties, including land, buildings, and cultural artifacts of immense historical and religious value. These holdings are distinct from personal wealth or property that an individual might own privately.
🏛️ 1. St. Peter’s Basilica (Basilica di San Pietro) – Vatican City
- Architectural Style: Renaissance and Baroque
- Highlights: Michelangelo’s dome, Bernini’s Baldachin, St. Peter’s tomb
- Why it’s beautiful: The largest church in the world, full of marble, gold, mosaics, and masterworks of art. It’s considered the pinnacle of Catholic architecture.
🏰 2. The Apostolic Palace – Vatican City
- Function: The Pope’s residence and the central offices of the Holy See
- Highlights: Raphael Rooms, Sistine Chapel, papal apartments
- Why it’s beautiful: It includes the Sistine Chapel, home to Michelangelo’s iconic ceiling and The Last Judgment. Also features intricate frescoes and centuries of art and architecture.
🌿 3. Vatican Gardens – Vatican City
- Size: About 57 acres
- Highlights: Renaissance fountains, grottoes, sculptures, and manicured landscapes
- Why it’s beautiful: A peaceful and lush oasis hidden behind the Vatican walls, with a blend of Italian, English, and French garden styles.
🏰 4. Lateran Palace (Palazzo del Laterano) – Rome
- Historical Role: Former papal residence before the Vatican was established
- Connected to: Archbasilica of St. John Lateran
- Why it’s beautiful: Grand Renaissance and Baroque architecture with important religious relics. It also houses the Scala Sancta (Holy Stairs), said to have been climbed by Jesus.
🕍 5. Basilica of Saint John Lateran (San Giovanni in Laterano) – Rome
- Title: Cathedral of the Bishop of Rome (the Pope)
- Why it’s beautiful: Ornate marble interiors, massive columns, golden ceilings, and statues of the Apostles. It’s older than St. Peter’s and considered the “mother of all churches.”
🏛️ 6. Basilica of Saint Mary Major (Santa Maria Maggiore) – Rome
- Style: Romanesque with Baroque renovations
- Highlights: 5th-century mosaics, golden coffered ceiling with New World gold
- Why it’s beautiful: It combines classical Roman structure with dazzling Christian art and relics.
🕍 7. Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls (San Paolo Fuori le Mura) – Rome
- Size: One of Rome’s largest basilicas
- Highlights: 80 granite columns, massive cloisters, and mosaics
- Why it’s beautiful: Elegant and solemn atmosphere with rich artistic decoration.
🏛️ 8. The Pontifical Villas of Castel Gandolfo
- Location: Hills outside Rome, overlooking Lake Albano
- Highlights: Papal summer residence, vast gardens, and private farms
- Why it’s beautiful: Baroque palaces set in lush, rolling landscapes—now open to the public as a museum.
🕍 9. Church of the Gesù (Chiesa del Gesù) – Rome
- Importance: Mother church of the Jesuit order
- Artistic highlights: Ceiling fresco by Giovanni Battista Gaulli (Triumph of the Name of Jesus)
- Why it’s beautiful: Lavish Baroque interior, theatrical architecture, and dramatic use of light.
🕍 10. Santa Maria in Trastevere – Rome
- Why it’s beautiful: One of the oldest churches in Rome, with 12th-century golden mosaics and warm Romanesque charm in the heart of Trastevere.
For a visual overview of Pope Leo XIV’s election, you might find https://youtu.be/QIPUxA6Z-HM
