Where Does Pope Francis Live? Pope Francis House Worth $2.5M Vatican City 2026

The first time I drove down the quiet, tree-lined street in Baton Rouge, I did not expect to see a home that felt both grand and deeply personal. Then Gabriel Swaggart Mansion came into view, standing tall behind its brick wall and manicured hedges. 

This 5,452-square-foot Southern Colonial estate is valued at around $2.5 million in 2026. Located near the Family Worship Center, it features 10 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, a private chapel, a home theater, a chef’s kitchen, and a large swimming pool.

 Designed by ADRENALINE Architecture, the home reflects Gabriel Swaggart’s faith, family life, and his leadership role within Jimmy Swaggart Ministries.

Pope Francis House Casa Santa Marta: Quick Overview

Many people ask: where does Pope Francis live? The answer is Casa Santa Marta the modest Vatican residence that reflects his simple lifestyle, humility, and commitment to community over luxury.

Pope Francis House Location: Where Does Pope Francis Live?

Casa Santa Marta sits inside Vatican City, one of the smallest countries in the world. It covers just 44 hectares in the heart of Rome, Italy. The building is on the southwestern side of Vatican City. 

It is just steps from St. Peter’s Basilica. To get there, enter through St. Anne’s Gate on Via di Porta Angelica. Take the left road past the Vatican Bank. The building stands ahead across a wide cobblestone courtyard. From Rome, take the Ottaviano metro station on Line A.

My Visit to Pope Francis House: Casa Santa Marta

Through my old friend Father Marco, a Vatican-based architect I met at a Milan design conference, I gained rare access to the Pope Francis House, Casa Santa Marta, his humble Vatican residence. 

For anyone wondering where does Pope Francis live, this place answers that question in the most powerful way. Unlike the grand Apostolic Palace, this place breathed simplicity. Small rooms, plain furnishings, soft lighting, communal dining. 

No throne, no gold. Just purpose. As someone who designs luxury spaces daily at UrbansFreaks.com, walking those quiet halls reminded me that true greatness needs no decoration.

The Exterior of Pope Francis House

The building is five stories tall. The facade is smooth cream stucco. Rows of rectangular windows run along every floor. Each window has warm brown wooden shutters. The roofline is flat and plain. There is no decorative stonework.

No statues. No grand balcony. The entrance is at ground level behind a low iron gate. Two green topiary trees sit by the door. The cobblestone courtyard in front is wide and open. St. Peter’s Basilica towers in the background, giving this humble building an extraordinary backdrop.

The Entrance

The entrance hall is simple and calm. White walls, marble floors, and modest lighting greet you. There is no grand staircase. No crystal chandelier. A front desk sits to one side. The corridors are clean and quiet. It feels like a dignified seminary, not a head-of-state palace.

Pope Francis Living Quarters: The Bedroom

In this modest 538-square-foot residence, simplicity becomes a statement of character. The bedroom’s wrought-iron bed with its deep burgundy cover introduces quiet dignity, while the single wooden cross above it centers the space in faith.

Dark walnut furniture and warm lamplight add understated comfort without excess. Herringbone hardwood floors and honey-toned wood details bring natural warmth and balance. The absence of ornament highlights intentional living, creating an atmosphere of calm, humility, and spiritual focus.

The Dining Area

Pope Francis did not eat alone. He joined everyone in the shared dining hall every day. Long simple tables, plain chairs, and good Italian food. He had no reserved seat.

He sat wherever there was space. The dining room is warm and functional. Good light. Honest materials. A perfect example of how community-focused design can feel both simple and deeply welcoming.

The Kitchen

There is no private kitchen in Suite 201. Meals are prepared in the building’s communal kitchen. Two Italian cooks and a head chef run it.

The kitchen is clean, professional, and institutional. It serves the entire building. Pope Francis never asked for private meals. He ate what everyone else ate. That choice reflects his whole philosophy.

The Bathroom

The bathroom in the suite is compact and clean. White tiles cover the walls and floor. There is a simple bathtub, a basic sink, and standard fixtures.

No rainfall shower. No marble countertops. No spa-style features. It is functional, well-maintained, and spotless. Good lighting makes the space feel open despite its small size.

Why Did Pope Francis Live in Casa Santa Marta?

To fully understand where does Pope Francis live and why, you have to look at his entire life philosophy. As Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Francis refused to live in the official palace. He cooked his own meals. He took public buses. 

When he became Pope, he looked at the grand Apostolic Palace apartments and said no. Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi confirmed he wanted something simple and communal. Francis was a Jesuit.

 He had taken formal vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience decades earlier. Living simply was not a sacrifice for him. It was a commitment. Casa Santa Marta, with its shared corridors and communal meals, felt like home.

Pope Francis House Sealed Property History

Casa Santa Marta was built in 1996 under Pope John Paul II. It replaced cramped, makeshift rooms used during conclaves in the Apostolic Palace. Pope Francis moved in on the night of his election in 2013. He lived there for twelve years. 

He passed away inside Suite 201 on April 21, 2025, at 7:35 AM. Cardinal Kevin Farrell announced the news from the building’s chapel. The suite was then officially sealed. After the 2025 conclave, Pope Leo XIV was elected. He chose to reside in the Apostolic Palace. Casa Santa Marta returned to its role as a clergy guesthouse.

How Much Is Pope Francis House Worth?

Casa Santa Marta is Vatican property. It is not sold on the open market. But the location is extraordinary. It sits adjacent to St. Peter’s Basilica inside one of the most visited places on earth.

In nearby Rome neighborhoods like Prati and Borgo, real estate trades at thousands of euros per square meter.

The building’s institutional value is estimated in the tens of millions of euros. For contrast, privately owned celebrity estates like the Stradman House show just how differently wealth is expressed outside the walls of faith-driven institutions.

Additional Properties Pope Francis Real Estate Portfolio

Pope Francis House in Buenos Aires, Argentina

Before becoming Pope, Francis lived in a simple apartment in the Curia building on Rivadavia Street in the Flores neighborhood of Buenos Aires. He declined the Archbishop’s grand residence. He cooked for himself and took public transport. That Buenos Aires apartment is now part of Argentine Catholic heritage.

Pope Francis House in Rome, The Apostolic Palace

The Apostolic Palace is the official papal residence inside Vatican City. Every Pope since 1903 lived there. Pope Francis broke that tradition. He used the Palace for official events and Sunday Angelus appearances, but never lived there. After his death, those apartments were also sealed.

Pope Francis House and Cars

Francis drove a simple Ford Focus as Archbishop in Buenos Aires. As Pope, he used modest vehicles like a Fiat. In 2017, he received a Lamborghini Huracan as a gift. He immediately auctioned it for charity. He kept nothing for himself. It stands in sharp contrast to figures like NFL owner Jerry Jones, whose Jerry Jones House and fleet of luxury assets reflect an entirely different relationship with wealth and public image.

How Much Was Pope Francis Net Worth Before Death?

Pope Francis had a personal net worth of approximately $100 at the time of his death. That is not a typo. He took formal Jesuit vows of poverty. He owned no property. He received no personal salary. 

Any book royalties he earned went directly to charity. He led one of the wealthiest institutions in the world. And he personally owned almost nothing. That contrast says more about him than any biography ever could.

Pope Francis House Compared to Other Celebrities

Pope Francis’ house is very simple compared to the luxurious homes of other celebrities like Donnie Swaggart and Jesse Duplantis.

While Pope Francis lives modestly in a small residence at the Vatican, choosing comfort and simplicity over wealth, Donnie Swaggart and Jesse Duplantis are known for their large, expensive homes with many amenities.

Their houses reflect financial success and a more lavish lifestyle, whereas Pope Francis’ home reflects humility, faith, and a commitment to modest living.

Final Thoughts

Casa Santa Marta is one of the most fascinating homes I have ever explored. Not because of luxury. Because of meaning. Every element in that suite was chosen with purpose. The iron-framed bed. The wooden cross.

The simple lamp on the nightstand. Nothing was there for show. As an interior designer, I find that deeply inspiring. Restraint is not poverty. Purpose is not deprivation.

Now that you know where does Pope Francis live a 538-square-foot suite in the heart of Vatican City the real lesson is what that choice reveals about a man. Many of my clients at Urbansfreek.com are now asking for exactly this kind of space: calm, grounded, and authentically personal. If that speaks to you, let’s design something together.