Where Does The Pope Live? Vatican City And Residence Facts Revealed

Deepthi Reddy
Feb 25, 2023 By Deepthi Reddy
Originally Published on Nov 10, 2021
Edited by Lara Simpson
Fact-checked by Pradhanya Rao
View of Illuminated Saint Peter`s Basilica

The pope is popularly recognized as the Roman pontiff or supreme pontiff.

He currently holds citizenship in three different countries: Italy, Argentina, and the Vatican. Pope Francis is the head of the Vatican City State and the head of a world religion.

He is the perfect paragon of holiness and goodness. He is one of the most familiar figures globally, with over eight million followers on Instagram.

He imbibed the name Francis to honor a Catholic friar, namely Francis of Assisi, from 12th century Italy. Before serving as a priest, Pope Francis was a tango dancer.

The papal leader is indeed more than just a regular priest! Who would have ever even imagined that this great man would go from working as a bouncer at a bar to running the Vatican City and becoming a world leader?

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Where does the pope live in Italy?

Italy is home to many great art cities like Rome, Venice, and Florence, attracting millions of people for centuries. And one of the most famous landmarks in Rome, the capital of Italy, is the Vatican City. It is the world's smallest state with a form of absolute monarchy.

Even though it is one of the younger states, its history is ancient. The popes lived in various places in and out of Rome. Most commonly, it is said that the pope lives in Vatican City.

Where do the popes live inside the Vatican? The Vatican Palace, also known as Apostolic Palace, is the official residence of present and past popes.

It is popularly known as the Papal Palace or, as many people would call it, the Apostolic Palace.

The structure was built in the late 16th century in honor of Pope Sixtus V. You can come across the papal palace in the northeast direction of St Peter's Basilica, the largest church in the world, which was built during the 4th century and had been rebuilt again in the 16th and 17th century.

The palace, slightly hidden by the enormous columns surrounding St. Peter's Square, is stunning.

Is Vatican City a country?

The Vatican City State is ruled by the pope, the bishop of Rome. The official name of the city is Stato della Citta del Vaticano.

The Vatican City was first formed in 1929 after the Lateran Treaty was signed between Italy and the Apostolic See. The Holy See and Vatican City are different.

The pope lives there as it is the pope's official residence and other members and officials who serve the church. Vatican City is famous for some of the world's well-liked paintings and sculptures in cultural sites like the St Peter's Basilica, Vatican Museums, and the Sistine Chapel, where you can find the greatest Christian artistic works.

There are many galleries and museums throughout the city.

The economy is supported by tourists' souvenirs, the entry fee for the museums, and the sale of postage stamps. People here usually prefer speaking in Italian, or they speak Latin.

The Vatican is an independent City State in Rome, but it is also a tiny country. The country is the city itself! It is because of this small size that it is known as a City State. Its one of the wealthiest countries in the world, holding the 18th position based on per capita.

Where does the pope sleep at night?

As the pope is the monarch, he is also a king. A pope's earning is about a minimum of $50,000 per annum.

The pope doesn't receive an actual salary, unlike us. Instead, he has all his expenses and living arrangements taken care of by the Vatican. Pope Francis is living pretty decent and has been known to even go without many privileges enjoyed by previous popes.

Because the pope lives in the Papal Palace, it also means he sleeps there. We can say that while in the Vatican, it is the Apostolic Palace where he gets his good night's sleep, but being the highest authority associated with the Catholic Church and the Vatican City State, he has to travel a lot.

How many homes does the pope have?

The Vatican Palace is the residence of Pope Francis within the city. While many people know it as the Apostolic Palace, many know it as the Vatican Palace.

However, there is a possibility that the other officials' residences are apart from the papal apartments. Casa Santa Marta is the official residence of Pope Francis or the Papal Palace in the Vatican.

The palace serves for the papal activity, and the church also contains Roman Catholic offices and renowned rooms like Raphael's Room and the Sistine Chapel. The other buildings serve different purposes.

Although there is no information about the other possible residences apart from the Papal Palace, it is sure that there are none in the Vatican.

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Written by Deepthi Reddy

Master of Business Administration

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Deepthi ReddyMaster of Business Administration

With an MBA under her belt, Deepthi has discovered her true calling in content writing. Her writing repertoire is diverse, covering travel, movies, pet care, parenting, animals and birds, and more. Her joy of learning and creating has helped her craft well-written and engaging articles. When she isn't writing, Deepthi enjoys exploring new cultures, trying different foods, and spending quality time with her two children aged 7 and 12.

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Fact-checked by Pradhanya Rao

Bachelor of Commerce specializing in Marketing and HR

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Pradhanya RaoBachelor of Commerce specializing in Marketing and HR

With a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce from Christ University, Bangalore, Pradhanya's passion for the English language and literature led her to explore the field of content writing, where she has gained extensive experience in writing, reviewing, editing, and fact-checking. She has also earned certifications in Google Ads Search, Google Ads Display, and Social Media Marketing, showcasing her proficiency in digital marketing.

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