After the renovation, Pope Leo XIV moved into the papal apartment, which was avoided by Pope Francis

Rome — ROME (AP) — Pope Leo XIV moved into the newly renovated papal apartment at the Apostolic Palace on Saturday, taking up residence in the flat that Pope Francis famously abandoned.

Leo’s closest aides will join him in an apartment on the third floor of the Apostolic Palace overlooking St. Peter’s Square, the Vatican said.

Since being elected last May, Leo has lived in his small flat in the Vatican’s Palazzo del Sant’Uffizio, the headquarters of the Office of Holy See Doctrine with a handful of private apartments for Vatican officials.

In the following 10 months, the Vatican undertook extensive renovations to the papal apartment in the Apostolic Palace, which had not been used by Francis during his 12-year pontificate and needed renovation to bring its electricity, plumbing and other utilities up to standard.

In recent months, as Leo’s move-in date nears, a crane has been seen operating at the site.

Francis said he chose not to live in an apartment because he wanted to be surrounded by other people. Instead, he lived in the Vatican’s Santa Marta residence, an institutional-style hotel where visiting priests stay and where cardinals are sequestered in conclaves.

Francis’ choice was in keeping with his simple tastes and disdain for the pomp of the papacy. But the practical effect was that the entire second floor of the hotel was turned over to the Pope, reducing his ability to pay guests.

Leo has made it clear that he is more comfortable using the papacy’s traditional vestments and accoutrements. His decision to move to the Apostolic Palace has been particularly praised by conservative commentators, who see it as a sign of respect for the papacy.

Leo actually took formal possession of the residence in the days following his election, walking through the reception rooms and a small chapel reserved for his personal use. After Francis died on April 21, it was sealed with a red ribbon and wax, as papal protocol called for, even though he died in his hotel room.

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