First Trip Outside Vatican to Former Residence

On Thursday evening, 8 May, a few hours after being elected as the Successor of Peter, Pope Leo XIV left the Vatican to spend the night at the Palazzo del Sant’Uffizio in Rome, where he had been staying for nearly two months before the Conclave.

Warm applause welcomed him in the courtyard, where he greeted those gathered one by one. Among the faithful was Sister Nathalie Becquart, the Undersecretary of the Synod of Bishops.

The Pope also greeted a little girl named Michela who timidly approached him and asked him for a blessing and an autograph. Pope Leo joked that he still had to get used to his new signature and asked the little girl to spell it for him.

Pope Leo XIV thanked all those present and took selfies with those who asked.