Pope Leo XIV has concluded his three-week summer break, leaving the Apostolic Palace in Castel Gandolfo to return to the Vatican last night. Source: Vatican News.
As his car departed from the papal residence, the Pope greeted a group of people who had gathered to see him off and blessed several children waiting with their parents.
He will return to Castel Gandolfo on Wednesday to attend Cantico di Pace (Canticle of Peace), a gathering of prayer and fraternity.
Promoted by the Laudato Si’ Centre for Higher Education and the Andrea Bocelli Foundation, the event forms part of celebrations marking the 800th anniversary of the death of St Francis of Assisi. It will be held in the gardens of the Pontifical Villas.
During his 23-day stay in Castel Gandolfo, which began on July 5, Pope Leo devoted time to prayer, reading and some sport.
The small town, which overlooks Lake Albano in the Alban Hills outside Rome, is listed among Italy’s Most Beautiful Villages.
In addition to four Sunday appointments with the faithful – on July 5, 12, 19 and 26 – when he led the Angelus from the entrance to the Apostolic Palace, Pope Leo took part in two other public events.
On July 11, he shared lunch in the pontifical gardens with 200 people, including 35 children, from the Diocese of Rome living in situations of social vulnerability.
A week later, on July 18, he attended a concert organised by the Diocese of Albano in the courtyard of the Apostolic Palace.
The Pope also made three private visits during the final week of his stay.
On July 20, he visited the Benedictine Abbey of Montecassino. On July 22, he travelled to the Sanctuary of the Most Holy Trinity at Vallepietra before visiting the Monasteries of St Benedict and St Scholastica at Subiaco.
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Pope Leo XIV concludes period of rest in Castel Gandolfo (By Tiziana Campisi, Vatican News)
