Domus Sanctae Marthae

{{Infobox building

| name = Domus Sanctae Marthae

| image = Domus Sanctae Marthae from the Dome of St. Peter's.jpg

| image_alt =

| image_size =

| caption = The Domus Sanctae Marthae seen from the dome of St. Peter's Basilica

| building_type = Residence, guest house

| architectural_style = Modern

| location_country = Vatican City

| coordinates = {{coord|41.9007|12.4533|format=dms|region:VA|display=inline,title}}

| map_type = Vatican

| map_alt =

| map_caption = Location on a map of Vatican City

| completion_date = {{start date and age|1996|paren=yes}}

| owner = The Holy See

| opened_date = {{start date and age|1996|paren=yes}}

}}

The Domus Sanctae Marthae (Latin for House of Saint Martha; {{langx|it|Casa di Santa Marta}}) is a building adjacent to St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City. Completed in 1996, during the pontificate of Pope John Paul II, it is named after Martha of Bethany, who was a sibling to Mary and Lazarus of Bethany. The building functions as a guest house for clergy having business with the Holy See and as the temporary residence of members of the College of Cardinals while participating in a papal conclave to elect a new pope.

Pope Francis lived in a suite in the Domus Sanctae Marthae from his election in 2013 to his death in 2025, declining to live in the papal apartments in the Apostolic Palace.

Building and facilities

Prior to the construction of Domus Sanctae Marthae, cardinals participating in conclaves lived in uncomfortable makeshift rooms in the Apostolic Palace, which had limited bathroom and dining facilities and no air conditioning, which was difficult for older cardinals.{{Cite web |last=Deborah |date=2013-03-01 |title=Vatican Route: St. Martha's House |url=https://insidethevatican.com/magazine/culture/vatican-route-st-marthas-house/ |access-date=2025-04-25 |website=Inside The Vatican |language=en-US}}{{Cite book |last=Tobin |first=Greg |url=https://archive.org/details/selectingpopeunc0000tobi_j6o0/mode/1up |title=Selecting the Pope : uncovering the mysteries of papal elections |date=2009 |publisher=Sterling |location=New York |isbn=978-1-4027-2954-6}}{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/frompopejohnpaul0000unse/mode/1up |title=From Pope John Paul II to Benedict XVI : an inside look at the end of an era, the beginning of a new one, and the future of the church |date=2005 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |location=Lanham, Md |isbn=978-1-58051-202-2}}

Pope John Paul II, after participating in two conclaves, decided to make the process more comfortable and less strenuous on the elderly cardinals, and commissioned the construction of Domus Sanctæ Marthæ. He specified it would serve for conclaves and at other times be available to "ecclesiastical personnel serving at the Secretariat of State and, as far as possible, at other Dicasteries of the Roman Curia, as well as to cardinals and bishops visiting Vatican City to see the Pope or to participate in events and meetings organized by the Holy See".{{cite press release |title=The St. Martha Foundation |url=http://www.ewtn.com/HolySee/Interregnum/domus.asp |date=April 2005 |access-date=24 January 2014 |publisher=Catholic News Service/Vatican Press Office}} Laymen have stayed there as well.

Italian environmental groups, joined by Italian politicians, protested against the construction because it would block the view of St. Peter's Basilica enjoyed from some nearby apartments. The head of the Vatican's Department of Technical Services contended that it would be lower in height than many neighborhood buildings and rejected challenges to the Vatican's right to build within its borders.{{cite book |last=Thavis |first=John |title=The Vatican Diaries: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Power, Personalities and Politics at the Heart of the Catholic Church |year=2013 |publisher=Viking |location=New York City |isbn=978-0-670-02671-5 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/vaticandiariesbe0000thav/page/121 121–2] |url=https://archive.org/details/vaticandiariesbe0000thav/page/121 }}

The hotel cost $20 million, with $13 million initially pledged by casino owner John E. Connelly, from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, who later received a contract to sell copies of Vatican art in the United States. Connelly did not fulfil his initial financial commitment after his business encountered financial setbacks. His art contract was also rescinded after he failed to extend his marketing efforts beyond Pittsburgh.{{cite news |url=http://www.post-gazette.com/headlines/20010109vaticannat3.asp |title=Connelly's plan to market replicas never took hold beyond Pittsburgh |first=Ann |last=Rodgers-Melnick |work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |date=9 January 2001 |access-date=24 January 2014}}

Connelly proposed Louis D. Astorino, a Pittsburgh-based architect, to design the building. When his design was rejected, Astorino remained to design the adjacent Chapel of the Holy Spirit while the Italian architect Giuseppe Facchini, former deputy director of the technical services of the governorate of the Vatican, designed the new building.{{cite news |url=http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2013/03/04/new-vatican-chapel-designed-by-pittsburgh-architect/ |title=New Vatican Chapel Designed By Pittsburgh Architect |work=KDKA News |publisher=CBS Local |date=4 March 2013 |access-date=24 January 2014}} The chapel occupies a site between the Leonine Wall and the guesthouse proper.{{cite web |url=http://www.astorino.com/portfolio/chapel-of-the-holy-spirit |title=Chapel of the Holy Spirit |publisher=Astorino |access-date=24 January 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131102224009/http://www.astorino.com/portfolio/chapel-of-the-holy-spirit |archive-date=2 November 2013 |df=dmy-all }}

The five-story building has 106 suites, 22 single rooms and one apartment. It is run by the Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul.{{Cite web |date=2025-04-25 |title=Inside Casa Santa Marta, Pope Francis's new digs |url=https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/article/130328-pope-francis-vatican-casa-santa-marta-apartment-rome-catholic |access-date=2025-04-25 |website=Culture |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=EWTN Global Catholic Television Network: Catholic News, TV, Radio {{!}} EWTN |url=https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/holysee/interregnum/domus |access-date=2025-04-25 |website=EWTN Global Catholic Television Network |language=en}} Its amenities include furnished bedrooms, lavatories, and studies for each occupant. Dining facilities and personal services are offered. Mary Ann Glendon, U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See from 2008 to 2009, described the accommodations as "comfortable, but by no means deluxe".{{cite news |title=Kissinger in conclave at Vatican |url=http://cathnews.acu.edu.au/704/145.php |access-date=24 January 2014 |newspaper=Catholic News |date=30 April 2007}}

Previous structure

In 1891, Pope Leo XIII had the St. Martha Hospice built on the site now occupied by the Domus, when it was feared that the cholera epidemic of that time might reach Rome. After it did not, the building was used to provide services to the sick of Rome's Borgo and Trastevere neighborhoods, and as a hospice for pilgrims. Electricity was provided in 1901, and a chapel added in 1902. Medical services were expanded to cover priests and Swiss Guards.

During World War II the building was used by refugees, Jews, and ambassadors from countries that had severed diplomatic relations with Italy.{{cite web |last=Sodano |first=Angelo |title=Homily: 120 Years of Witness by the Sisters of Charity |date=11 December 2004 |url=https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/secretariat_state/2004/documents/rc_seg-st_20041211_daughters-charity_en.html |publisher=Secretariat of State |access-date=24 January 2014}} At the end of the war, Pope Pius XII greeted 800 Roman children who breakfasted at St. Martha Hospice after receiving their First Communion.{{cite news |title=800 Poor Children Received by Pope |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1945/05/07/88224930.pdf |access-date=24 January 2014 |newspaper=The New York Times |date=7 May 1945}} It served as a home where senior clerics could live their last years.{{cite news |title=Aide to Pope Dies at 62 |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1956/05/13/91137629.pdf |access-date=24 January 2014 |newspaper=The New York Times |date=13 May 1956}} Increasingly it served as a residence for clerics assigned to Vatican offices.

Conclave use

File: Conclave Map.svg

Pope John Paul II's Apostolic Constitution Universi Dominici gregis of February 1996 changed the rules governing papal conclaves, to house the cardinal-electors at the Domus Sanctae Marthae. The building also houses support staff for conclaves, such as doctors, confessors, cooks, and cleaning staff.{{Cite web |last=Deborah |date=2013-03-01 |title=Vatican Route: St. Martha's House |url=https://insidethevatican.com/magazine/culture/vatican-route-st-marthas-house/ |access-date=2025-04-25 |website=Inside The Vatican |language=en-US}} It was used for the conclaves of 2005, 2013 and 2025.{{cite news |last=Wangsness |first=Lisa |title=Conclave to select next pope to start Tuesday |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/news/world/2013/03/08/date-for-conclave-select-successor-pope-benedict-xvi-expected-set-friday/DQbWI3zmQwbq4o3tjPXBGP/story.html |access-date=24 January 2014 |newspaper=The Boston Globe |date=8 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201173630/http://www.bostonglobe.com/news/world/2013/03/08/date-for-conclave-select-successor-pope-benedict-xvi-expected-set-friday/DQbWI3zmQwbq4o3tjPXBGP/story.html |archive-date=1 February 2014 |url-status=dead }}{{cite news |date=18 April 2005 |title=Cardinals assembled to elect a pope |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/18/world/europe/18iht-web.0418pope.html |access-date=4 April 2013 |newspaper=The New York Times}} As the Sistine Chapel, the site of conclave voting, is on the opposite side of St. Peter's Basilica from the Domus, the cardinals are driven to the chapel daily via bus. Provisions are made that no outsiders can approach or speak to the cardinals during this time.{{Cite book |last=Galazka |first=Grzegorz |url=https://archive.org/details/johnpauliihiscar0000gala/mode/1up |title=John Paul II and his cardinals |date=2001 |publisher=Chicago, IL : Midwest Theological Forum |others=Internet Archive |isbn=978-1-890177-13-3}}

The Domus was used by the cardinal electors at the 2025 papal conclave following the death of Pope Francis. As the building has 129 total bedrooms, housing the record-high 133 cardinal-electors participating in the 2025 conclave required use of other Vatican facilities.{{Cite web |date=2025-04-25 |title=Inside Casa Santa Marta, Pope Francis's new digs |url=https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/article/130328-pope-francis-vatican-casa-santa-marta-apartment-rome-catholic |access-date=2025-04-25 |website=Culture |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Feed |first=CV News |date=2025-04-24 |title=Record number of cardinal electors poses logistical challenge for conclave |url=https://catholicvote.org/record-number-cardinal-electors-logistical-challenge-conclave/ |access-date=2025-04-25 |website=CatholicVote org |language=en-US}} Several cardinals were lodged at the neighbouring Santa Marta Vecchia, or Old Saint Marta building,{{Cite web |last=AFP |first=The European Conservative / |date=2025-05-06 |title=Cardinal Electors Begin Moving Into Vatican Today |url=https://europeanconservative.com/articles/news-corner/cardinal-electors-move-into-vatican/ |access-date=2025-05-07 |website=europeanconservative.com |language=en-US}}{{Cite news |date=2025-05-05 |title=Cardinals to move into Vatican on eve of conclave |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2025/05/05/cardinals-to-move-into-vatican-on-eve-of-conclave_6740953_4.html |access-date=2025-05-07 |language=en}} ordinarily used to house other Vatican officials.{{Cite web |date=2025-05-06 |title=Cardinals to move into Vatican on eve of conclave - eNCA |url=https://www.enca.com/lifestyle-top-stories/cardinals-move-vatican-eve-conclave |access-date=2025-05-07 |website=www.enca.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2025-05-07 |title=Next pope faces 'difficult, complex' point in history, cardinals told |url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20250507-history-beckons-as-cardinals-gather-to-elect-new-pope |access-date=2025-05-07 |website=France 24 |language=en}} Other facilities, including rooms at the Ethiopian College, and apartments owned by the Fabric of Saint Peter were considered for supplemental space.{{Cite web |last=Beltrán |first=José |date=2025-04-30 |title=Operación desalojo en la residencia de Santa Marta: ¿hay sitio para los 133 cardenales del cónclave? |url=https://www.vidanuevadigital.com/2025/04/30/operacion-desalojo-en-la-residencia-de-santa-marta-hay-sitio-para-los-133-cardenales-del-conclave/ |access-date=2025-04-30 |work=Vida Nueva |language=es}}{{Cite web |date=2025-05-01 |title=Vatican guesthouse offers cardinals privacy, relaxed comfort |url=https://catholicreview.org/vatican-guesthouse-offers-cardinals-privacy-relaxed-comfort/ |access-date=2025-05-01 |website=Catholic Review |language=en-US}}

As at previous conclaves, the cardinal electors were assigned rooms by lot.{{Cite web |date=2025-04-21 |title=Death of Pope Francis: What happens next |url=https://madisoncatholicherald.org/death-of-pope-francis-what-happens-next/ |access-date=2025-04-25 |website=Madison Catholic Herald |language=en-US}} All radios, television sets and telephones were disconnected, and Wi-Fi blocked, in accordance with regulations which call for the cardinals to be secluded from the outside world.{{Cite news |title=At The Vatican, A Social Media Blackout Keeps Cardinals Pure |url=https://www.npr.org/2013/03/10/173917184/sistine-chapel-conclave-prep-includes-ensuring-social-media-blackout |access-date=2025-04-25 |work=NPR |language=en}} Cooking during the conclave is taken care of by religious sisters, who prepare dishes from the Lazio region surrounding Rome, with strict restrictions on the types of foodstuffs served.{{Cite web |date=2025-05-01 |title=The great conclave secret: What do would-be popes eat? |url=https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20250430-the-secrets-of-feeding-the-papal-conclave |access-date=2025-05-01 |website=www.bbc.com |language=en-GB}}

Papal residence (2013–2025)

File:Papa Francesco entra nella Domus Sanctae Marthae.JPG

On 26 March 2013, the Vatican announced that Pope Francis would not move into the papal apartments in the Apostolic Palace. He was the first pope not to live in the papal apartments on the third floor of the Apostolic Palace since Pius X occupied them in 1903. Rather, he used the palace suite there as his office. He remained for a time in the room he was assigned by lot at the start of the conclave that elected him, and then moved to Suite 201 in the Domus Sanctae Marthae. He celebrated morning Mass and took communal meals in the residence.{{cite web |url=http://ncronline.org/news/vatican/pope-francis-live-vatican-guesthouse-not-papal-apartments |title=Pope Francis to live in Vatican guesthouse, not papal apartments |first=Cindy |last=Wooden |date=26 March 2013 |access-date=24 January 2014 |work=National Catholic Reporter |agency=Catholic News Service}}

Francis explained his decision saying: "The residence in the Apostolic Palace is ... large and made with good taste, but not luxurious.... It is large, but the entrance is narrow. Only one person at a time can get in and I cannot live alone. I must live my life with others."{{cite news |title=The Pastoral Geopolitics of the Domus Sanctae Marthae |url=http://insidethevatican.com/magazine/vatican-watch/pastoral-geopolitics-domus-sanctae-marthae |work=Inside the Vatican |date=January 2014 |access-date=18 April 2017}}

He occupied a bedroom furnished with basic necessities, a wooden standing crucifix, along with a small statue of Our Lady of Luján, the Marian patroness of Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay. Outside his bedroom were two Swiss Guards who worked day and night shifts, and a statue of Saint Joseph under which the pontiff placed prayer requests.{{cite news | url = https://www.lastampa.it/vatican-insider/en/2014/05/02/news/those-little-prayers-francis-slips-under-his-st-joseph-statue-1.35772134 |title=Those little prayers Francis slips under his St. Joseph statue | work = La Stampa | date= 2 May 2014 |access-date = 12 April 2020 }}

Pope Francis died on April 21, 2025, at 07:35 CEST, inside his apartment. At 09:45 Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, announced his death from the complex's chapel. The rite of certification of death and the laying of the body in the coffin took place at the same chapel at 20:00, presided by Farrell, in the presence of the Dean of the College of Cardinals, the Pope's relatives, and the Vatican Health Department. The apartment where Pope Francis lived was later sealed by Cardinal Farrell, along with the papal apartments at the Apostolic Palace.{{cite news |title=Pope Francis, first Latin American pontiff who ministered with a charming, humble style, dies at 88 |author=Nicole Winfield |url=https://apnews.com/article/vatican-pope-francis-dead-01ca7d73c3c48d25fd1504ba076e2e2a |access-date=21 April 2025 |work=AP News |date=21 April 2025}} Following the 2025 conclave that elected Leo XIV, media reported that he would take up permanent residence in the Apostolic Palace rather than in the Domus.{{cite web |last=Hernández |first=Virginia |date=May 9, 2025 |title=Adiós a Santa Marta: León XIV residirá en el Palacio Apostólico y la Misa de inicio de su Pontificado será el 18 de mayo |url=https://www.elmundo.es/internacional/2025/05/09/681e0e03e4d4d8d2758b4578.html |access-date=May 10, 2025 |website=El Mundo |language=es}}{{Cite web |date=2025-05-12 |title=Pope Leo XIV set to move into long-abandoned papal apartment |url=https://international.la-croix.com/opinions/pope-leo-xiv-set-to-move-into-long-abandoned-papal-apartment |access-date=2025-05-12 |website=La croix international |language=en}}