Domus Sanctae Marthae
| Domus Sanctae Marthae | ||
|---|---|---|
 Exterior view |
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| Data | ||
| place | Vatican city | |
| Construction year | 1884/1996 | |
| Coordinates | 41 ° 54 '2.4 " N , 12 ° 27' 12" E | |
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The Domus Sanctae Marthae ( Latin for "House of St. Martha") is the guest house of the Vatican City . It currently serves as the Pope's residential quarters , as a guest house for church visitors and as accommodation for the cardinals at the conclave . The house was given to the patronage of St. Assuming Martha von Bethanien , she is not only the patron saint of housekeeping, but also of innkeepers and hoteliers.
history
This papal guest house was built in 1884 by Pope Leo XIII. (1878–1903) founded. It was first a hospital and was used during a cholera epidemic . Members of the Vatican and the surrounding area were treated in it. It was later converted into a pilgrims' hostel and was used as a hostel for refugees after the Second World War . Finally, in 1978 , John Paul II converted the former hospitium into the current papal guest house, Domus Sanctae Marthae. In 1996 a complete renovation was completed, the house was handed over to its intended use by John Paul II. In times when a conclave does not have to be held, it serves as accommodation for guests of the Pope and the Roman Curia .
Guest house
The five-story house is behind the audience hall . The construction costs of the building, which was built under the direction of the American architect Louis D. Astorino , amounted to around 20 million US dollars. In addition to the residential units, which are all equipped with their own bathroom, there is also a restaurant, small stalls and shops that offer personal services. The housekeeping and management is the responsibility of the Cooperative of the Daughters of Christian Love of St. Vincent de Paul .
Conclaves
The Camerlengo , the Cardinal Secretary of State and the President of the Pontifical Commission for the State of Vatican City are responsible for the domestic preparations to hold a conclave . The Sistine Chapel remains the place of election , but the same confidentiality provisions apply to the guest house. The voters will be driven to the chapel in a bus for the voting . The residents have 106 guest apartments and 22 single rooms, depending on their equipment. The rooms are distributed to the cardinals by lottery. During the conclave all electronic connections to the outside world are switched off.
Residence of the Pope
After his election as Pope in March 2013, Pope Francis initially stayed in the Sanctae Marthae guest house because the papal apartment in the Apostolic Palace was being prepared for him. When the apartment was ready, the Pope nevertheless preferred to continue to reside in the Sanctae Marthae guest house. As a justification, he said that he liked to live “among the other members of the clergy”.
literature
- Bernhard Hülsebusch , The Representative of Jesus - Mystery and Truth of the Pope Election , St. Benno Buch- und Zeitschriftenverlagsgesellschaft, Leipzig, 2002, ISBN 3-7462-1501-3 .
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Santa Marta instead of the Vatican Palace: Pope Francis stays in the guest house for the time being , Spiegel Online from March 26, 2013.