Rome, Italy, Mar 8, 2013 / 09:05 am
No one knows who the new Pope will be, but it can be said with certainty that he will be temporarily staying in a new apartment after he is elected.
"The new Pope will be staying here because the apartment in the Apostolic Palace is still sealed and it needs some renovations," Father Federico Lombardi told journalists March 8.
"Like Pope Ratzinger," he explained, "he will be staying in Casa Santa Marta for the first few weeks."
The news was accompanied by a video tour of Casa Santa Marta, the hotel-like building where all of the cardinals will be staying during the conclave.
The future Pope will be staying in a suite that features a modest bedroom, sitting room and study.
Earlier in the March 8 press conference, Fr. Lombardi announced that the date of the conclave to elect the new Pope would be made public after 7:00 p.m. tonight. It will not begin this weekend but will kick-off sometime early next week, said.