It is possible that before 2013 this place might have been unknown to you. However, once you hear that the name of this residence is Santa Marta, it might sound more familiar.
It was the place Pope Francis chose to live during his pontificate; apartment 201 on the second floor was his home for more than 12 years.
In Casa Santa Marta, he was just one among many. He lived with priests, nuns, and people passing through Rome. He celebrated Mass daily, especially during the pandemic.
He received private visits, as well as official ones, especially when his health prevented him from traveling. It was the place where his lying-in-state was held for a few days after his passing.
However, although Santa Marta has become connected in some way to the life of the Argentinian Pope, its creation and original purpose were quite different.
Located right next to St. Peter’s Basilica, its foundation dates back to the 19th century. By order of Pope Leo XIII, the building was constructed in order to care for cholera patients.
Later, during World War II, Pope Piu s XII used this place to shelter Jews fleeing the Holocaust. However, it wasn’t until 1996 that it was renovated for a new purpose.
The objective? To host cardinals during the conclave. Previously, the cardinal electors slept near the Sistine Chapel, but the discomfort of the place led to a search for a better solution.
Pope Saint John Paul II made the decision in 1996 to convert it, and now Santa Marta has 129 rooms spread over several floors. Nowadays, outside conclave time, it serves as a hotel and residence.
It is no coincidence that this building is named after Martha; a saint who, along with her siblings Mary and Lazarus, lent their home to host Jesus and practiced hospitality toward many others.
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