From vast libraries to rooms filled with sacred artifacts: Inside stunning palace Pope Leo may call home
VATICAN CITY: Pope Leo XIV has already made history as the first American to lead the Catholic Church.
The 69-year-old Chicago native officially took the reins on Thursday, May 8, after winning the cardinals' conclave vote. But now that he’s settled into the role, he's got more than just spiritual matters on his plate — like where he's actually going to live.
His predecessor, Pope Francis, who died aged 88 on Easter Monday, drew applause when he ditched the posh Apostolic Palace and opted for a much more low-key setup at Casa Santa Marta, the Vatican's guesthouse.
That move set a tone of humility and simplicity — and it looks like Pope Leo might just follow in his footsteps.
Having spent years as a missionary in Peru, Leo’s no stranger to modest living. So, while he now has the keys to Rome’s opulent Apostolic Palace, he might just pass them up for something simpler, as per LaDbible.
Pope Leo XIV will have 1,000 rooms to roam in at Apostolic Palace
While Pope Leo XIV may not be chasing the luxe life, the job certainly comes with its perks. Since stepping into the papal shoes, he’s already been handed a gold ring worth a jaw-dropping $500,000 plus his own custom bulletproof "popemobile." And even if he doesn’t crash at the Apostolic Palace, he still gets VIP access to all its iconic treasures.
These include 1,000-plus rooms filled with masterpieces — from the Sistine Chapel to Raphael’s Rooms and the Borgia Apartments. Furthermore, the Apostolic Palace includes private chapels, vast libraries, and sacred artifacts that the public only dreams of seeing.
Looking at what the pope actually earns — it’s not your standard paycheck situation. The Vatican is basically the world’s smallest but most powerful all-inclusive resort. They take care of everything: housing, meals, travel, healthcare, security, and more.
There’s talk that popes might be “entitled” to a salary of around $2,700 a month, but Pope Francis famously refused any kind of personal income. He chose instead to live like his namesake, St. Francis of Assisi — embracing simplicity and charity. But even without a salary and the Vatican footing every bill, the perks are pretty incredible.
Francis may not have drawn a paycheck, but he certainly wasn’t broke. Between Vatican resources and donations, some estimates put his net worth in the millions. He also had a generous allowance for charitable giving — something Leo may inherit as well.
Pope Leo XIV could also opt to live at a breathtaking clifftop retreat
Pope Leo XIV has the choice to live a luxe life in the grand Apostolic Palace, or maybe something a little more low-key.
One tempting option on the table is Castel Gandolfo, a 135-acre hilltop retreat with stunning views of Lake Albano.
But if Leo is serious about following Francis’s example — and insiders say he is — he might very well skip all that opulence.
For now, what we do know is that Pope Leo is setting a tone of unity and purpose.
During his first sermon earlier this week, he spoke in English to his cardinals. “I know I can rely on each and every one of you to walk with me as we continue as a Church, as a community of friends of Jesus, as believers, to announce the good news, to announce the Gospel," he shared.
Before he took over the papacy, Leo reportedly made between $4,300 and $5,400 a month as a cardinal — but now, his life is set to look quite different.
