Leo XIV reinstates tradition of summer retreat.
Pope Leo XIV is to spend his summer holidays in Castel Gandolfo, the papal retreat near Rome, reinstating a summer tradition abandoned by his predecessor Francis.
The Vatican on Tuesday said that Leo XIV would spend two weeks in July and a weekend in August at the papal residence located in the Alban hills about 25km south-east of Italy’s capital.
During his time at Castel Gandolfo, the pope will celebrate Sunday Mass in local churches and pray the Angelus with pilgrims in the town’s Piazza della Libertà.
Leo XIV will travel to the summer residence on 6 July before returning to the Vatican on 20 July ahead of the Jubilee of Youth, scheduled from 28 July to 3 August.
He will return to the lakeside retreat on 15 August, the Feast of the Assumption, which Italy marks with the Ferragosto public holiday.
The pontiff will remain at Castel Gandolfo that weekend, returning to the Vatican on 17 August.
The 55-hectare papal retreat, which includes a 25-hectare Vatican farm and a 30-hectare garden, has been a holiday residence for the popes since the 17th century.
Its magnificent Barberini Gardens feature ancient Roman ruins dating back to Emperor Domitian as well as a square of holly oaks, paths of roses and aromatic herbs, and a magnolia garden.
Under the Lateran Pact of 1929, Castel Gandolfo became one of the Vatican’s extra-territorial properties.
Following his election in 2013 however Pope Francis broke with tradition by not spending his summer break at Castel Gandolfo, remaining instead at his residence in the Vatican.
Francis turned Castel Gandolfo into a museum, opening the private papal apartments of the Apostolic Palace – including the pope’s bedroom, chapel and study – to the public.
*Vatican spokesperson Matteo Bruni confirmed to Reuters that Pope Leo XIV would not stay in the palace, which will remain a museum, and will instead be staying at another Vatican property. Article updated to include this clarification.
