The Italian Journal Blog

Tag: Pope Leo XIV

Where Does the Pope Live? The Apartment Francis Refused

Posted on August 17, 2026 by Jordan Walker

For twelve years, the answer to this question was unusual. Pope Francis turned down the papal apartments in 2013 and moved into a room in a Vatican guesthouse, where he stayed until his death in 2025. His successor moved back. Pope Leo XIV lives in the papal apartments of the Apostolic Palace, the traditional papal […]

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What Does the Pope Do? The Job, Explained

Posted on August 14, 2026 by Jordan Walker

Quick Summary: The pope holds three jobs at once, and most descriptions collapse them into one. He is the bishop of a single diocese in Italy. He is the spiritual leader of roughly 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide. And he is the sovereign of a 0.49 square kilometre state with its own diplomatic corps, currency arrangements, and […]

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