Pope Leo XIV is reviving a long-standing tradition of papal summer retreats by departing for the Apostolic Palace in Castel Gandolfo on Sunday, a practice completely abandoned by his predecessor Francis during his entire 12-year pontificate.
The Prefecture of the Papal Household has officially announced the upcoming vacation of Pope Leo XIV. The head of the Catholic Church will leave for Castel Gandolfo in the Lazio region immediately after completing his Sunday duties. Despite the holiday, the Pope is scheduled to lead the Sunday Angelus prayer at the local Piazza della Libertà and meet with pilgrims and visitors who come to the papal residence.
All audiences – general, private, and special – are suspended until July 27. The weekly Wednesday audiences at St. Peter’s Square will resume on August 5. The Vatican confirmed the temporary halt in all official engagements, marking a clear break from the summer routine of recent years.
A return to tradition
Pope Leo XIV’s decision marks a clear return to a tradition that his predecessor Francis had completely set aside. Francis never visited Castel Gandolfo during his 12-year pontificate. In 2016, he transformed the Apostolic Palace into a museum, and later part of the complex was repurposed as an ecological education and agriculture center, with the gardens opened to the public. After his election in May 2025, Pope Leo initially stayed at the Villa Barberini, a building within the estate, leaving the main palace open to tourists. Now he has decided to restore the former function of the residence, moving into the main palace for his summer retreat.
The tradition of summer stays in Castel Gandolfo dates back to the 17th century, when Pope Urban VIII first used the hilltop complex overlooking Lake Albano to escape the Roman heat. For generations, popes followed suit, making the palace a symbol of papal continuity. Francis broke with this custom, preferring to remain in Vatican City and opening the historic residence to the public as a museum and educational center.
In May, media outlets reported that due to the Pope’s planned stay, the Apostolic Palace in Castel Gandolfo would be closed to visitors for the entire month of July. This further underscores the shift back to private papal use of the historic complex.
Shifts in papal living arrangements
The return to Castel Gandolfo is not the only change marking a departure from the Francis era. In mid-March, Pope Leo XIV moved into the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican, taking up residence in the newly renovated papal apartment that Francis had earlier abandoned. That apartment had remained unused for years as Francis chose to live in the more modest Casa Santa Marta guesthouse, a decision widely seen as a symbol of his humble approach.
Castel Gandolfo has been the summer residence of the Holy Father since the 17th century. The complex, overlooking the scenic Lake Albano, served as a vacation spot for successive popes for decades. Leo XIV’s choice to revive this tradition, along with his move back to the official papal apartments, signals a conscious effort to restore historical practices that had been altered under his predecessor. For many observers, these actions represent a deliberate shift in papal style and a nod to the weight of tradition within the Church.
Źródło: Polsat News, Fot. Polsat News
