Pope Francis died on Monday, April 21
After his death, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Cardinal Secretary of Vatican City, put a seal in place on the papal apartments until a new pope was selected
That day came on May 8, when Pope Leo XIV was elected after a conclave that lasted two days
Pope Leo XIV has broken the seal on the papal apartments, marking one of his first major symbolic moments as pontiff.
In a video shared by the Vatican’s press office on Monday, May 12, Leo removed the seals that had been placed on the papal apartments, known as the Apostolic Palace, as part of protocol after Pope Francis’ death in April.
Francis, who did not live in the apartment, chose to live in an apartment of the Casa Santa Marta, the Vatican guesthouse, which was also sealed as per traditional proceedings.
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Cardinal Secretary of Vatican City, put the seals in place just after Francis died of a stroke on Monday, April 21.
Video footage of the moment the papal apartments were sealed began circulating online in a moment that was familiar to anybody who watched the 2024 film Conclave, which starred Ralph Fiennes as Cardinal Lawrence, a fictional cardinal who oversaw the papal election process.
Although Francis chose not to live in the Apostolic Palace, it remains unclear if Leo will follow in his footsteps or return to the tradition of residing there.
Cardinal Robert Prevost became the 267th pope of the Roman Catholic Church on the second day of the conclave on Thursday, May 8, and selected the name Pope Leo XIV.
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Onlookers learned that a new pope had been elected after white smoke rose from the chimney on the Sistine Chapel that afternoon. The pick came just over two weeks after Francis’ death.
TIZIANA FABI/AFP via Getty
Pope Leo XIV, Robert Prevost in The Vatican, on May 8, 2025.
Since then, the new pope has fit a number of events into his schedule, including earlier this week, when he met with over 1,000 journalists for the first time — and one cryptic answer has raised more than a few eyebrows.
In a now-viral exchange, NewsNation’s Robert Sherman asked if Leo had “any message for the United States?”
“Many,” the pope replied. Without elaborating, he simply added, “God Bless you all.”
The answer has been interpreted by some as being pointed, while others online have wondered if the pope just misheard the reporter.
The pope’s next big event will be on Sunday, May 18, when his inauguration mass will take place in St. Peter’s Square.
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