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Claim: A viral photo on social media shows the modest bedroom in which the late Pope Francis stayed until his death.
Verdict: False. The viral image shows one of the bedrooms at the Casa Santa Marta guest house, where Pope Francis lived, but not the exact bedroom he lived in while he was alive.
Full Text
Pope Francis died on April 21, 2025, at 88. His passing drew farewell messages from across the world, with many celebrating his humility, humanity, and quest for peace and social justice.
Featuring prominently in the late Pope’s tributes were attributes of humility. While past Popes chose to stay in the luxurious papal apartment, Pope Francis opted for the Casa Santa Marta, a guest house at the Vatican where he lived until his passing on April 21, 2025. This context has encouraged several social media users to share images that show a modest bed in a single room, such as Pope Francis’s bedroom, until his death.
The picture below was widely shared on social media as the bedroom of the Pope.
A photo shared by multiple accounts on Facebook as Pope Francis’ bedroom.
One of the captions that accompanied the photo on social media said: “This was the bed of Pope Francis throughout his years as Head of the Roman Catholic Church. He remains one of the richest popes who conquered poverty by rejecting opulence and offered absolute service to God and man. His life is a Lesson to our religious leaders!”
The tiny room has a single bed with three pillows, a bedside cabinet, and a wooden crucifix on the wall.
The claim was repeated here, here, here, and here.
Verification
Following a series of Google Reverse Image Searches, we note that the image dates back to 2005. However, the first time the image appeared online was in 2008. Another source also indicates that the photo was taken in 2005, before Pope Francis became Pope. Also, the image shared on social media is similar to another picture in the Google Reverse Image Search, except the latter shows other wooden furniture in the room. Picture below:
Photo credit: dailymail.co.uk
Contrary to the image shared as the Pope’s bedroom, Pope Francis lived in room 201, a suite of three rooms comprising a small bedroom, an office, and a reception room. Room 201 is one of the largest rooms in the Casa Santa Marta guest house.
Below are pictures of Pope Francis’ bedroom
Photo credit: Getty Images
The original version of the image shared as Pope Francis’s bed is a photo of another bedroom in the Casa Santa Marta guest house, not the Pope’s.
Conclusion
Though the image being shared as Pope Francis’s bedroom at the Casa Santa Marta guest house, where the Pope lived, is not the room he lived in while he was alive. The claim is, therefore, false.
