Pope Leo XIV Expected to Share Vatican Apartment with Friars

Pope Leo XIV plans to move into the Vatican's opulent Papal apartments later this year, marking a departure from his predecessor Pope Francis, who chose to live in the simpler Casa Santa Marta guesthouse. Uniquely, Leo intends to share the renovated 16th-century residence with three or four members of the clergy, likely Augustinian friars, reflecting his order's community-oriented spirit. The apartments, sealed after Pope Francis's death and left empty for 12 years, have undergone extensive renovations to address water damage and other issues. Vatican correspondent Iacopo Scaramuzzi noted this living arrangement is unprecedented in modern times and aligns with Leo's Augustinian values, emphasizing fraternity rather than royal grandeur. This move symbolizes both a return to tradition and a subtle break from Francis's unorthodox style, with Leo embracing traditional papal vestments and communal living. Observers like Jesuit journalist Father James Martin view Leo's decision as prudent and not a critique of Francis's simpler lifestyle.