Overview

• On July 6, Leo XIV arrived on foot at Villa Barberini and greeted local faithful chanting “Viva il Papa.”
• This is the first papal summer stay at Castel Gandolfo in 12 years after Pope Francis transformed the Apostolic Palace into a museum.
• Vatican teams outfitted the villa with air conditioning, refurbished the semi-covered pool once used by John Paul II and added tennis and padel courts.
• Scheduled public events include a Mass at San Tommaso Church on July 13 followed by the Angelus prayer in Piazza della Libertà.
• Leo XIV becomes the 16th pontiff since 1626 to revive the Castel Gandolfo summer tradition, signaling a renewed emphasis on pastoral outreach beyond Vatican City.