Where does Pope Francis Live? Inside Pope Francis House Vatican City
Pope Francis guided over 1.3 billion people in the Catholic Church, yet he lived a very simple life.Instead of staying in the large papal palace, he lived in a small two-room suite at Domus Sanctae Marthae from 2013 until his death in 2025.
While the huge apartments in the Apostolic Palace remained empty, he preferred a 300-square-foot room and shared meals with other priests,Pope Francis house showing his humble lifestyle.
Here’s what you need to know about where Pope Francis lived:
Before we look at this unique papal home, let me first tell you about the Argentine Jesuit who changed many traditions in the Church.
Who Was Pope Francis?
Pope Francis was born as Jorge Mario Bergoglio on December 17, 1936, in Buenos Aires. He grew up in a simple working-class family with five children. His father worked as a railway accountant while his mother cared for the family.
As he grew older, he joined the Jesuit order and became a priest in 1969. Over the years he served as bishop, then archbishop of Buenos Aires, and later became a cardinal in 2001. In 2013, after Pope Benedict XVI resigned, he was chosen as the new pope.
He took the name Francis, inspired by Francis of Assisi, known for a simple life and helping the poor. During his papacy he focused on kindness, reform, and helping people in need. He passed away peacefully on April 21, 2025, after years of serving the Church.
| Category | Details |
| Birth Name | Jorge Mario Bergoglio |
| Papal Name | Pope Francis |
| Birth Date | December 17, 1936 |
| Death Date | April 21, 2025 (age 88) |
| Birthplace | Buenos Aires, Argentina |
| Papacy | March 13, 2013 – April 21, 2025 (12 years) |
| Religious Order | Society of Jesus (Jesuits) |
| Historic Firsts | First Jesuit pope, first from Americas, first Francis |
| Predecessor | Pope Benedict XVI (resigned 2013) |
| Residence | Suite 201, Domus Sanctae Marthae |
| Key Themes | Poverty, environment, reform, mercy |
| Major Document | Laudato Si’ (environmental encyclical) |
Pope Francis grew up in simple conditions in Buenos Aires, which is why he chose a humble lifestyle even as pope. His simple background shaped his belief in living modestly rather than enjoying luxury.Now let’s take a look at the small and simple suite he called home.
What Is Domus Sanctae Marthae?
Domus Sanctae Marthae is a simple guesthouse located inside Vatican City. It was built in 1996 by Pope John Paul II to provide rooms for cardinals during papal elections.
The building has several floors with many small suites, a chapel, dining hall, library, and meeting rooms where priests and visiting bishops can stay. Most people live there only for a short time—except Pope Francis, who lived in Suite 201 for about 12 years.
Pope Francis House Location: Vatican City
Domus Sanctae Marthae, also called Casa Santa Marta, is a simple guesthouse inside Vatican City near St. Peter’s Basilica. It was built in 1996 mainly to give cardinals a place to stay during a papal election.
Instead of living in the grand palace, Pope Francis chose to live here to keep a humble and simple lifestyle.He lived in Suite 201, a small apartment with a bedroom, study, and sitting area.
The building also has a chapel where he held daily prayers and a shared dining hall where he often ate meals with other priests and guests. This setup helped him live and interact with people more closely instead of staying isolated.
Inside Pope Francis House: My Personal Tour
As Afshin Hatami, Founder of Opinohome, I’ve walked through some of the most exclusive properties in the world—from $30M Vegas estates to modern athlete sanctuaries—but stepping into Casa Santa Marta, the Vatican residence of Pope Francis, offers a completely different brand of luxury.
Grand Entrance Of Pope Francis House
As I entered, the entrance of Domus Sanctae Marthae is simple, bright, and welcoming, not grand like a palace. Clean marble floors, white walls, and natural light make the space feel calm and peaceful.It has a small reception area where Pope Francis could easily meet visitors and priests, while guards from the Pontifical Swiss Guard quietly keep the place safe.
Bedroom Of Pope Francis House
As I stepped in, the bedroom in Domus Sanctae Marthae was very simple. It had a single bed, a small nightstand, and a wooden cross on the wall—nothing fancy.
There were no gold decorations or luxury furniture. The window looked toward a quiet courtyard inside Vatican City, showing that Pope Francis preferred privacy and simplicity over grand views.
The Study Room Of Pope Francis House
As I explored the house, inside his room at Domus Sanctae Marthae, Pope Francis had a simple desk filled with papers, letters, and books where he did most of his daily work.
There was also a small sitting area with two chairs and a table where he met visitors, priests, and sometimes world leaders. The shelves had books on faith and philosophy, along with small religious images like Our Lady of Luján and Saint Joseph that reminded him of his faith and home country.
Church Of Pope Francis House
As I moved in, the most special spot in the house was the Church of the Holy Spirit, where Pope Francis led his daily 7 AM Mass.Designed by architect Louis Astorino, the small church has a triangle-shaped layout and a colorful marble floor, giving it a quiet, peaceful feel.
Here, the Pope shared simple, heartfelt messages with Vatican staff and visitors, making it a true place of personal reflection.
Meeting Room Of Pope Francis House
As I stepped in, the Meeting Room is simple and bright, with comfy chairs set up for easy, face-to-face conversation.
No fancy frescoes or velvet—just a plain desk, cabinet, and phone, keeping the focus on discussion, not status.It’s a space where the Pope could meet anyone as equals, with calm light and a peaceful view of the Vatican gardens.
Living Room Of Pope Francis House
As I walked in the house, the living room in Domus Sanctae Marthae was simple and peaceful, with a few comfy chairs and a small desk for quiet meetings.
Big windows let in light and show the Vatican gardens, keeping the space calm and connected to nature.It’s a place for reading, reflection, and talking one-on-one with visitors, showing that true luxury can be simple.
Hallway Of Pope Francis House
As I continued my tour, the hallways in the house were simple, quiet, and clean, with light marble floors and soft lighting.
They are designed for calm reflection, not showy decoration, keeping the focus on purpose rather than luxury.At the end of each hallway, small chapels remind residents, including the Pope, of prayer and their mission.
Pope Francis: Real Estate Portfolio Details (2026)
While Joel Osteen’s $10.5M River Oaks mansion is a 17,000-square-foot display of “Prosperity Architecture” with three elevators and six wood-burning fireplaces, Pope Francis’s residence is a masterclass in “Radical Accessibility”—a deliberate rejection of papal luxury in favor of a communal, modest lifestyle that redefined the 266th papacy in 2026.
| Category | The “Suite 201” Sanctuary | The Apostolic Palace (Official) | The “Leonine” Chapel |
| Asset Type | Primary Papal Residence | Formal Diplomatic State Hub | Private Spiritual Heart |
| Estimated Value | Priceless (Sovereign Property) | Billions (Historical/Museum) | Architectural Heritage |
| Year Acquired | 2013 (Decision to Stay) | ~17th Century (Traditional) | 1996 (Modern Addition) |
| Property Size | 5-Story Guesthouse | 1,700,000 sq. ft. Complex | Compact Geometric Wing |
| Structure Size | ~538 sq. ft. (Private Suite) | 1,000+ Formal Rooms | Triangular Footprint |
| Notable Feature | The Shared Table: Rejects a private chef to eat in the common cafeteria with Vatican staff and visitors. | The “Funnel” Rejection: Francis called the Palace a “reverse funnel” where the entrance is too narrow for the community. | Ancient Integration: A glass wall incorporates the 9th-century Leonine Wall directly into the modern chapel. |
| Focus | Community & Proximity | Art, History & Protocol | Intimate Liturgy |
Pope Francis Net Worth
Pope Francis “wealth” is entirely institutional. He has redefined the Papacy as a role with zero personal salary and maximum institutional accountability.
| Category | Details |
| Estimated Net Worth | Personal: ~$100 |
| Primary Real Estate | Lives in Suite 201 of Casa Santa Marta; rejected the $1B+ Apostolic Palace. |
| The “Vow” Core | $0 Salary. Since 2013, he has refused the traditional ~$32,000 monthly papal stipend. |
| Asset Strategy | Nationalization: In 2023, he decreed all Vatican department assets are “Sovereign Patrimony,” not private property. |
| Charitable Reach | Peter’s Pence: A ~$50M+ annual fund used for global disaster relief and migrant support. |
| Strategic Philanthropy | Established the “Commission of Donations” (2025) to fund climate justice and refugee education. |
| Luxury “Hobby” Assets | The “Gift” Policy: Rare watches or luxury cars gifted to him (like Lamborghinis) are auctioned for charity. |
| Future Liability | Vatican Pension Gap: Managing a ~$600M+ structural deficit while maintaining the 1,000-room palace as a museum. |
Conclusion
I spent two hours walking through Pope Francis’s simple suite at Domus Sanctae Marthae, seeing how humility and purpose shaped every corner.From the quiet bedroom to the small chapel, it’s clear luxury isn’t about gold or size—it’s about calm, connection, and community.This simple Vatican home feels worlds apart from flashy celebrity houses, like the one owned by Steven Furtick House.
FAQs
1. Where did Pope Francis live?
Pope Francis lived in Suite 201 at Domus Sanctae Marthae (Casa Santa Marta), a Vatican guesthouse, from March 2013 until his death on April 21, 2025.
2. Why did Pope Francis reject the papal apartments?
Pope Francis rejected the 10,000-square-foot papal apartments in the Apostolic Palace because he could not live in isolation.
3. What was Pope Francis’s suite like?
Pope Francis’s Suite 201 contained approximately 538 square feet with a simple bedroom and study (desk, bookshelves, small seating area).
4. What was Pope Francis’s real name?
Pope Francis’s birth name was Jorge Mario Bergoglio.
