Pope Leo XIV will resume the tradition of spending some time in Castel Gandolfo, south of Rome, during the summer holidays. Source: CNA.
A spokeswoman for the small town, Giulia Agostinelli, said yesterday Pope Leo will arrive sometime during the first week of July.
The Vatican later confirmed the Pope will spend July 6-20, and August 15-17 in the pontifical villas at Castel Gandolfo.
The Prefecture of the Papal Household also announced that on July 13 and 20, and on August 15, Leo will celebrate Mass at the local parish of Castel Gandolfo before leading the Angelus from Liberty Square in front of the main papal residence.
On August 17, the pontiff will also lead the Angelus before returning to the Vatican.
For most of July, the pope will not hold any private or public audiences. The Wednesday general audiences will resume on July 30.
In 2013, Pope Francis broke with the papal practice of escaping the Roman heat in Castel Gandolfo, with its extensive gardens, preferring to remain at his Vatican residence, Santa Marta, even during the summer.
Francis opted to turn the papal summer residence into a museum. It opened to the public in 2016.
The gardens of the papal residence, called the Barberini Gardens, were opened to the public in 2014 as a way to increase revenue for the town, which thrived on tourism brought by visitors who came to see the Pope during his stay.
For Benedict XVI, the villa was a favourite summer getaway during his pontificate. It was conceded to the Holy See as one of their extraterritorial possessions under the Lateran Pact of 1929.
FULL STORY
Castel Gandolfo: Pope Leo XIV to resume papal summer vacation tradition in lakeside town (By Hannah Brockhaus, CNA)
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Pope Leo XIV to spend summer holidays in Castel Gandolfo (Vatican News)
