Thepapal apartmentsis the non-official designation for the collection ofapartments,which are private, state, and religious, that wrap around acourtyard(the Courtyard ofSixtus V,Cortile di Sisto V)[1]on two sides of the third (top) floor[2]of theApostolic PalaceinVatican City.[3][4]
Since the 17th century, the papal apartments have been theofficial residenceof the pope in his religious capacity (assupreme pontiff). Prior to 1870, the pope's official residence in histemporalcapacity (assovereignof thePapal States) was theQuirinal Palace,which is now the official residence of thepresident of the Italian Republic.The papal apartments are referred to inItalianby several terms, includingappartamento nobileandappartamento pontificio.[1]
Facilities
editThe apartments include about ten rooms including avestibule,a smallstudioofficefor the papal secretary, the pope's privatestudy,the pope's bedroom in the corner of the building, a medical suite (which includesdentalequipment and equipment foremergency surgery), adining room,a smallliving room,and thekitchen.[4]There is aroof gardenand staff quarters for the housekeepers. It is from the window of his small study that the pope greets and blessespilgrimstoSaint Peter's Squareon Sundays.[3][4]The privatelibraryhas been described as a "vast room with twowindowsoverlooking Saint Peter's Square. "The pope's private chapel occupies the top storey on the east side of theCortile di Sisto V.
Residency
editThe pope usually lives at the papal apartments except for the months of July to September, when thePapal Palace of Castel Gandolfois the official summer residence.[3]Three of the last five popes,John XXIII,John Paul I,andJohn Paul II,died in the papal apartments; the fourth,Paul VI,died at Castel Gandolfo, whilst the fifth,Benedict XVI,after retiring, lived briefly in Castel Gandolfo before moving into hisnew residencewithin the Vatican.
However,Pope Francis,after his election, declined to stay in the papal apartments in favour of his two-room residence in theDomus Sanctae Marthae.Similarly, he stayed in an apartment instead of the Archbishop's Palace during his tenure asArchbishop of Buenos Aires.[5]
Renovations
editThe papal apartments are customarily renovated according to each new pope's preferences.
Prior to the renovation in 2005, following thedeath of Pope John Paul IIand the election ofPope Benedict XVI,the papal apartments had reportedly been in disrepair, with "outmoded furnishings and lack of lighting" and large drums placed in thefalse ceilingto catch water leaks. The 2005 renovation, carried out over three months while Benedict was in summer residence atCastel Gandolfo,included the building of a new library to accommodate Benedict's 20,000 books (placed in exactly the same order as in his previous residence), upgrading the electrical wiring (125-volt electrical outlets,phased out in Italy years prior, were replaced with 220-volt outlets) and plumbing (new pipes were installed to replace those "encrusted with rust and lime" ).[4]The heating system was repaired and the kitchen was refurbished, reportedly with new ovens, ranges, and other appliances donated[2]by a German company. The floors, which are 16th-century marble slabs and inlay, were restored.[4]The medical studio ( "hastily installed in the papal lodgings for the ailing John Paul II" ) was renovated and expanded to include dental facilities,[2]and the papal bedroom was completely redone. Wallpaper and other furnishings were put in throughout. The project was carried out by over 200 architects, engineers, and workers.[4]Benedict also moved personal possessions to the papal apartments, including anupright piano.[3]
Transfer
editOn 21 October 2016, the Vatican announced that the Palace of Castel Gandolfo would now open to the general public as part of a museum. The palace was the final part of the papal apartments to open to the public over a two-year period.[6]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^abLevillain, Philippe, ed. (June 2002).The Papacy: An Encyclopedia.Routledge. pp. 72–73.ISBN978-0415937528.
- ^abc"Makeover for papal apartment".Catholic World News.28 September 2005. Archived fromthe originalon February 11, 2007.
- ^abcdWilley, David (13 May 2005)."Pope Benedict's creature comforts".BBC News.
- ^abcdefThavis, John (6 January 2006)."No place like home: Papal apartment gets extreme makeover".Catholic News Service.Archived fromthe originalon January 10, 2006.
- ^Wooden, Cindy (26 March 2013)."Pope Francis to live in Vatican guesthouse, not papal apartments".National Catholic Reporter.Retrieved26 March2013.
- ^"Papal apartments at Castel Gandolfo open to the public".Vatican Radio.21 October 2016.Retrieved6 September2016.