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9h ago

Pope Leo XIV Arrives at Castel Gandolfo to Restart Summer Retreat

He pauses public audiences to focus on Mass with Angelus prayers at Villa Barberini during his six-week vacation

Pope Leo XIV arrives at the papal summer residence in Castel Gandolfo south of Rome for a six-week vacation, Sunday, July 6, 2025.
People walk past a souvenir shop in the town of Castel Gandolfo, a historic summer retreat for popes about 30 kilometers southeast of Rome, where Pope Leo XIV will be spending a short period of rest, is seen Wednesday, July 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
A guide book with an image of Pope Leo XIV on its cover is on display outside a souvenir shop in the town of Castel Gandolfo, a historic summer retreat for popes about 30 kilometers southeast of Rome, where Pope Leo XIV will be spending a short period of rest, is seen Wednesday, July 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Overview

  • Pope Leo XIV reached Villa Barberini on July 6 to begin his first summer retreat since his May election and restore a tradition set aside by his predecessor
  • All public and private audiences are suspended for the duration of the stay but the pontiff will continue celebrating Mass and leading the Angelus in the nearby town
  • Vatican-led upgrades at the Castel Gandolfo estate include the completion of a new tennis court reflecting the pope’s longstanding interest in the sport
  • Italian outlets report unconfirmed preparations for horses to be brought to the estate for papal rides, a matter on which the Vatican has declined to comment
  • The pope’s presence has boosted local tourism and revived the economic and communal life of the hilltop town