Pope Leo XIV Begins Summer Break in Castel Gandolfo
On Sunday, July 5, the Prefecture of the Papal Household announced that Pope Leo XIV would move to Castel Gandolfo for a summer break lasting until July 27. This year, as in the previous year, the Pope would reside at t…
On Sunday, July 5, the Prefecture of the Papal Household announced that Pope Leo XIV would move to Castel Gandolfo for a summer break lasting until July 27. This year, as in the previous year, the Pope would reside at the Apostolic Palace, approximately an hour from the Vatican.
The statement indicated that all audiences, including general, private, and special ones, would be suspended during this period, resuming on Wednesday, August 5. Additionally, the Angelus would be recited from Castel Gandolfo on the Sundays of July, moving from its usual setting in St. Peter’s Square.
In summer 2025, Pope Leo XIV spent 16 days at Villa Barberini in Castel Gandolfo from July 6 to July 22. He engaged in several public activities during that stay, such as celebrating Mass at the “Laudato Si’ village” dedicated to environmental stewardship. Furthermore, the Pope visited the Pontifical Parish of St. Thomas of Villanova and the Cathedral of Albano.
This period included notable meetings, one with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at Villa Barberini, and a phone conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after an Israeli attack on the Holy Family Church in Gaza. Shortly after, he also spoke with Mahmoud Abbas, President of the State of Palestine.
