The newly elected Pope Leo XIV has reportedly reopened the papal apartments, which had been sealed since Pope Francis’s death.(Image: Getty Images)The newly elected Pope Leo XIV has reportedly reopened the papal apartments, which had been sealed since Pope Francis’s death. It was reported that the unsealing of the apartment was the Pope’s first official act as the head of the Catholic Church.
It was reported that the Vatican’s press office shared a video showing the first American Pope performing the act on Monday. Despite the fact that the late Pope Francis did not live in the apartment, officially known as the Apostolic Palace, the seal was still placed as part of the protocol.
Prior to his death in April, Francis resided in an apartment of the Casa Santa Marta, the Vatican guesthouse, which was also sealed as per traditional proceedings. It is currently unclear if Leo will take up residence there or will live somewhere else.
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It was reported that the unsealing of the apartment was the Pope’s first official act as the head of the Catholic Church.(Image: Corbis via Getty Images)Since being elected to the highest religious office in the world,the Pope has already begun to tell the world where he stands on certain issues. On Friday, the new Pope revealed his stance on LGBTQ rights when he proclaimed that family is built on a “stable union between a man and a woman.”
Leo made the statement during his first meeting with the Vatican diplomatic corps. In addition, the Pope also asserted the inherent dignity of both the unborn and the elderly as God’s creations, crystallizing traditional Catholic doctrines on marriage and the right to life at the dawn of his papal leadership.
It was reported that Leo also mentioned being committed to reigniting multilateral diplomacy and fostering interfaith dialogue to pursue peace, marking his inaugural encounter with the Vatican’s diplomatic corps. While the meeting was held behind closed doors, the Vatican released Leo’s scripted remarks alongside those from the head of the diplomatic corps.
Despite the fact that the late Pope Francis did not live in the apartment, officially known as the Apostolic Palace, the seal was still placed as part of the protocol. (Image: Corbis via Getty Images)The meeting of the Vatican diplomatic corps is reportedly one of the ceremonial duties following a conclave, providing the fresh pope with an opportunity to welcome envoys from around the globe before the official installment Mass this coming Sunday. Representing a sovereign entity in the realm of international law, the Holy See maintains formal ties with over 180 nations and holds observer status within the United Nations.
Leo, who is a member of the Augustine order, has set the tone for his papacy with a theme of pacifism, commencing with his initial proclamation from St. Peter’s Basilica after his May 8 election, where he announced, “Peace be with you all.”
During his address, he emphasized that the quest for tranquility is a fundamental tenet of his papacy. The pontiff underlined that peace transcends mere conflict avoidance; it is a “gift” demanding effort, which includes halting weapon manufacturing and using words judiciously, affirming, “For words too, not only weapons, can wound and even kill.”
It was reported that the Vatican’s press office shared a video showing the first American Pope performing the act on Monday(Image: Corbis via Getty Images)He maintained that governments have the responsibility to create peaceful communities, “above all by investing in the family, founded upon the stable union between a man and a woman.”
Moreover, he declared that everyone has the duty to foster respect for every individual’s dignity, notably those who are most vulnerable. “In addition, no one is exempted from striving to ensure respect for the dignity of every person, especially the most frail and vulnerable, from the unborn to the elderly, from the sick to the unemployed, citizens and immigrants alike,” he said.