Papal apartments

It is from the window of his small study that the pope greets and blesses pilgrims to Saint Peter's Square on Sundays.

However, Pope Francis, after his election, declined to stay in the papal apartments in favour of his two-room residence in the Domus Sanctae Marthae.

The 2005 renovation, carried out over three months while Benedict was in summer residence at Castel Gandolfo, included the building of a new library to accommodate Benedict's 20,000 books (placed in exactly the same order as in his previous residence), upgrading the electrical wiring (125-volt electrical outlets, phased out in Italy years prior, were replaced with 220-volt outlets) and plumbing (new pipes were installed to replace those "encrusted with rust and lime").

[4] The heating system was repaired and the kitchen was refurbished, reportedly with new ovens, ranges, and other appliances donated[2] by a German company.

[3] On 21 October 2016, the Vatican announced that the Palace of Castel Gandolfo would now open to the general public as part of a museum.