During a papal conclave, the cardinal electors stay at the Domus Sanctae Marthae, a modern residence inside Vatican City adjacent to St. Peter's Basilica. This building was completed in 1996 specifically to provide comfortable accommodations for cardinals during conclaves, replacing the previous practice of housing them in small, less comfortable rooms near the Sistine Chapel
. The Domus Sanctae Marthae features about 131 rooms, including 106 suites and 22 single rooms, each with private bathrooms and furnished with basic necessities. The cardinals are assigned rooms by lot, and the building also hosts support staff such as doctors, cooks, and confessors during the conclave
. Because the number of cardinal electors can sometimes exceed the number of available rooms (as in the 2025 conclave with 133 electors), additional accommodations are provided in nearby Vatican facilities like the neighboring Old Saint Marta building and possibly other Vatican-owned apartments
. For voting sessions, the cardinals travel daily from the Domus Sanctae Marthae to the Sistine Chapel, where the actual conclave voting takes place. During the conclave, strict security and seclusion rules apply, including disconnection of all communication devices and blocking of Wi-Fi to maintain privacy and confidentiality
. In summary, the cardinals stay in the Domus Sanctae Marthae residence during the conclave, with supplementary housing used when necessary due to the number of participants. This arrangement ensures they have a secure, private, and relatively comfortable place to live while electing a new pope
