Pope Leo XIV will revive a long-standing papal custom by taking a summer break outside of Rome, according to a Vatican announcement.
Pope Leo XIV will travel to Castel Gandolfo, the papal summer residence located south of Rome, from July 6-20 “for a period of rest.” He will also return there for a few days surrounding the Catholic Assumption feast day in August, the Vatican confirmed.
Pope Leo visited the papal summer palace last month, fueling speculation regarding the potential resumption of the centuries-old tradition.
The palace was originally constructed by Pope Urban VIII in 1624 as a refuge from the intense heat of the Roman summer.
It was expanded by subsequent popes to its current size of 136 acres, making it larger than Vatican City itself.
Pope Francis, who died shortly after Easter, was known for his tireless work ethic and preferred to remain at the Vatican even during the summer. Consequently he never took a proper holiday during his 12-year papacy.
Prior to Pope Francis, Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI both spent time at Castel Gandolfo, often combining their stay with visits to the Italian Alps.
Benedict XVI was particularly fond of Castel Gandolfo, even spending the final days of his papacy there in 2013.
Recognizing the economic impact of the papal absence on the local town, Pope Francis opened the palace gardens to the public in 2014 and later converted part of the palace into a museum.
In a positive development for the community, Pope Leo will reinstate the traditional Angelus blessing to the faithful who gather in front of Castel Gandolfo on July 13 and July 20, as well as on August 15 and 17, when he returns for a brief stay during Italy’s most important summer holiday.
Public and private audiences at the Vatican will be suspended during the majority of July, resuming on July 30.
