The moment a new pope is elected, a monumental shift occurs in the life of a man who moments earlier was just a cardinal. This profound transformation takes place in a small, unassuming room near the Sistine Chapel — a room known as the ‘Room of Tears.’
Why do popes cry upon their election? The weight of the papacy is a burden that even the most prepared cardinal may find overwhelming. When Pope Leo XIII was elected in 1878, he reportedly wept, believing he was too old for the job at 67. “He lived to be the second-oldest pope and died at the age of 93,” according to the report. Similarly, when Pope John XXIII was elected in 1958, he looked at his reflection in the mirror, observing his white vestments — which had been pinned in various places to accommodate his size — and joked that he would be a ‘disaster on television.’
The Room of Tears, or ‘Stanza delle Lacrime,’ is more than just a changing room. It is a sacred space where the pope-elect changes from the red robes of a cardinal to the white vestments of the papacy. As reported, the small room contains three sizes of papal garments — small, medium, and large — and boxes of papal shoes. Pope Francis, in his 2025 autobiography ‘Hope,’ recalled finding his episcopal ring in his pocket while avoiding the red velvet mozzetta and red shoes, stating, ‘I have orthopedic shoes; I’m rather flat-footed.’
Beyond its practical purpose, the Room of Tears is also a repository of papal memorabilia and documents, holding vestments of past popes and serving as a solemn reminder of the gravity of the office. After the newly elected pope accepts his role, he enters the Room of Tears to be dressed in the papal vestments. Moments later, he emerges to greet the world for the first time as the Holy Father, standing on the balcony overlooking St. Peter’s Square.
The room is typically locked, but at times, visitors may glimpse this sacred space, located just to the left of the Sistine Chapel’s altar. In these fleeting moments, one can sense the profound emotions felt by men who have just accepted a calling that will shape the future of the Catholic Church.
