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Glite Dictionary
Apostolic Palace

Apostolic Palace

1 8.7
The official home of the Pope in Vatican City where he lives and works
  • noun
translation icon : Palacio Apostólico
  • Visitors to Rome can tour the stunning art within the Apostolic Palace in Vatican City.

Examples

  • - ...and the Apostolic Palace.

    Angels & Demons (2009)

  • In compensation, within the Apostolic Palace that became his new home, he could expect perfect discretion, total secrecy.

    Blog text (25)

  • The Holy Father Benedict XVI received the President of the Republic of Benin, His Excellency Mr. Thomas Boni Yayi, in audience on Monday at the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican.

    Blog text (6)

  • The Pope resides in the Apostolic Palace, the official residence in Vatican City.

  • The administrative offices are located inside the Apostolic Palace, where the Pope conducts his daily affairs.

Synonyms

Vatican Palace
vsApostolic Palace
5.3

The building in Vatican City where the Pope lives and works

is the Pope's private apartments and his personal work area

Surface Forms

Apostolic Palace singular
Apostolic Palaces plural

Morphology

apostolic + palace

The meaning is directly derivable from combining 'apostolic' (pertaining to the pope/papacy) with 'palace' (an official large residence), so a learner who knows both constituents can infer 'the pope's official residence.' This compositional pattern is straightforward and cross-linguistically common, requiring no idiomatic or culture-specific knowledge beyond the term 'apostolic.'

Etymology

Apostolic Palace gets its name from the word Apostolic, which comes from 'apostle' meaning a follower sent by Jesus. Because the Pope is seen as the one who follows St. Peter, the first apostle, the Palace became the official home and offices of the Pope.