Pope Leo XIV began his summer retreat this Sunday at the Pontifical Villas in Castel Gandolfo, where he will remain until July 27. With this stay, the Pontiff is reviving a century-old tradition that had been interrupted during the pontificate of Francisco, who chose to stay at Casa Santa Marta over the summer.
Leo XIV is staying at Villa Barberini, within the papal complex located 25 kilometers south of Rome. The custom of spending the summer in Castel Gandolfo dates back to the 17th century, when Pope Urban VIII turned the site into the popes’ summer residence—a tradition that most of his successors maintained until the arrival of Pope Francis.
Upon his arrival, Leo XIV greeted the faithful gathered in Liberty Square from the balcony of the Apostolic Palace and expressed his delight at returning to the town: «Good afternoon, Castel Gandolfo! Thank you. »I am very happy to be here among you, to be able to spend the next few weeks resting a little, praying a little, reading a little, and, hopefully, doing a little exercise,” he said.
No audiences, but with the Angelus
The Prefecture of the Pontifical Household has announced that, during this break, general, private, and special audiences are suspended. Regular activities will resume on Wednesday, August 5, with the first general audience following the summer break.
Nevertheless, Pope Leo XIV will continue his weekly meeting with the faithful for the Angelus prayer. On the first two Sundays in July (the 5th and 12th), he will preside over the prayer from the Piazza della Libertà in Castel Gandolfo, while on July 19, he will return to the Vatican to lead the Angelus from St. Peter’s Square.
In addition, the Borgo Laudato Si’ It will remain open every day from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. to welcome pilgrims and visitors. From this space, the faithful have been invited to accompany the Pontiff in prayer during this time of rest.
The Change Compared to Francis
León XIV’s tenure marked a change of course from that of his predecessor. During the twelve years of his pontificate, Francisco chose not to move to Castel Gandolfo in the summer and preferred to remain at Casa Santa Marta, within the Vatican, even during the hottest months.
The Argentine pontiff felt he did not need a summer residence and chose to maintain a more consistent work schedule from Rome. His decision broke with a centuries-old tradition and allowed the papal complex to be put to a new use.
In 2016, Francis opened the private apartments of the Apostolic Palace at Castel Gandolfo to the public; they were transformed into a museum, allowing visitors for the first time to tour the rooms historically used by the popes during their vacations. He later also launched the Borgo Laudato Si’ project, a space dedicated to environmental education and the care of creation, inspired by his encyclical Laudato si'.
With the arrival of Pope Leo XIV, Castel Gandolfo once again became the Pope’s summer residence, restoring a scene that had been common throughout much of the Church’s recent history and bringing a tradition back to the forefront that had been on hold during Pope Francis’s pontificate.
Español 
English 
Italiano