Where they stay

According to the well-established tradition of the Church, while they are in Rome for the Conclave, the Cardinal electors and other staff members involved with the Conclave must be secluded from the public.  Following the Conclave of 1978, His Holiness, Blessed John Paul II asked that provisions be made to improve the accommodations which had been made available to Cardinals up until that time.  The result was the creation of the Domus Santae Marthae (Saint Martha's House), but as it turns out, this was not the first manifestation of the building which now serves this purpose.

The Saint Martha Hospice was built by order of Pope Leo XIII in 1891 during the fifth cholera pandemic in order to provide a location where victims from areas around the Vatican could be cared for.  During World War II, the building was used to house refugees, Jews and ambassadors from countries that had broken diplomatic ties with Italy.

In 1996, Blessed John Paul II issued a hand-written chirograph establishing the Foundation of Domus Sanctae Marthae and replacing the former Saint Martha Hospice.  The chirograph in question states:

In view of the new situation that has arisen, I have resolved to suppress the previous Foundation in order to establish a new Foundation under the title of Domus Sanctae Marthae for the purpose of offering hospitality, in the spirit of true priestly fraternity, to the ecclesiastic personnel in service of the Secretariat of State and, as far as possible, in service of the other Dicasteries of the Roman Curia, as well as the Cardinals and Bishops travelling to Vatican City in order to visit with the Pope or to participate in events and meetings organized by the Holy See. All of this is compatible with the provisions established in the Apostolic Constitution, Universi Dominici Gregis, which reserves the building's rooms for the exclusive use of the Cardinal electors during the Conclave for the election of the Supreme Pontiff.

The Domus Sanctae Marthae is a modern residence building located near St. Peter's Basilica, built on the site of the former Saint Martha Hospice. Since its construction in 1996 it has provided housing for prelates and others having business with the Holy See. The five-story building has 106 suites, 22 single rooms, and one apartment. Its management is entrusted to a director, whose appointment is reserved to the Secretariat of State, and its tasks are defined by statute.

During the period of the Conclave, the Cardinal electors who will reside at the Domus Sanctae Marthae.  Other persons who may also reside at or enter the Domus during the Conclave are those mentioned in the Apostolic Constitution Universi Dominici Gregis as necessary to meet the personal and official needs connected with the election process. These include: the Secretary of the College of Cardinals; the Master of Papal Liturgical Celebrations; the Masters of Ceremonies; priests from the regular clergy for hearing confessions in the different languages; two medical doctors for possible emergencies; as well as cleaning and cooking staff. All the persons indicated here must receive prior approval from the Cardinal Camerlengo.

During the Conclave the Cardinal electors can walk from the Domus to the Sistine Chapel unless they desire to use the small bus that has been placed at their disposition.