Pope Leo XIV. Tradition: Summer vacation in Castel Gandolfo!

Pope Leo XIV. Tradition: Summer vacation in Castel Gandolfo!

Castel Gandolfo, Italien - On Sunday, July 6, 2025, Pope Leo XIV begins his vacation in the summer residence Castel Gandolfo, about 30 kilometers south of Rome at the picturesque Albano Lake. This decision marks a significant break with the habit of his predecessor, Pope Francis, who did not stay in the traditional residence during his pontificate and instead opened it as a museum. Leo XIV will speak the Angelus prayer on St. Peter's Square on the first Sunday of his stay before returning to the tranquil villas and lingering there until July 20th

In Castel Gandolfo, the Pope will take part in several services and prayers. On the next two Sundays, he plans to hold his lunch prayer in the village square in front of the Papal Palace. In addition, on July 13, he will celebrate a trade fair in the parish of San Tommaso da Villanova and another trade fair in the Albano cathedral on July 20. The general audience will be resumed on July 30th after a short summer break.

peculiarities of his stay

The Pope will also spend the long weekend at the holiday "Ferragosto" (Himmelfahrt) in Castel Gandolfo and will hold a mass in the parish church of the city on August 15. The return to Rome is planned for August 17, also after the fishing prayer. Leonardo XIV designed his time in Castel Gandolfo in such a way that it serves both relaxation and pastoral duty, which is a return to the traditions of earlier popes.

The summer villa has a long story that goes back to the early 17th century. Castel Gandolfo has been the summer residence for Popes since 1626, starting with Urban VIII, which appreciated the picturesque location and the health benefits of the area. The complex comprises two magnificent palaces, extensive park -like gardens and agricultural areas that illustrate the cultural importance and the connection to the environment.

influence on the community

The presence of the Pope is expected with great anticipation in Castel Gandolfo. The 8,500 inhabitants hope for a revival of the business into restaurants and souvenir shops through the visit and the arriving pilgrims. This is in accordance with the Tradition that popes have a positive economic impact on the communities in the area.

Leo XIV. Not only remains on site for the actual services and prayers, but also takes significant time for the exchange with the believers and the local population. The mixture of pastoral duties and personal relaxation reflects the way as Popes like John Paul II and Benedict XVI. Castel Gandolfo used to combine both the service at the church and personal calm.

The anticipation for returning to these traditions is clearly noticeable in the Catholic community. Pope Francis' decision to do without Castel Gandolfo is not only a chapter in the pontificate of the current Pope, but also a return to the roots of the papal summer traditions.

Overall, Pope Leo XIV's stay in Castel Gandolfo is perceived as a significant event, which underlines both the spiritual dimension of papal office as well as the associated traditional relationship with the period of the summer vacation in the Roman Catholic Church, as well as vaticannews.de reported.

with Leo XIV. The tradition after Castel Gandolfo returns, and the next few weeks will promise both spiritual enrichment and a revival of the community and its traditions.