Castel Gandolfo: Pope Leo XIV to resume papal summer vacation tradition in lakeside town

The Vatican Gardens at Castel Gandolfo is located on the wooded slopes of the Alban Hills, overlooking the blue waters of a small volcanic crater lake. / Credit: Courtney Mares/CNA Rome Newsroom, Jun 17, 2025 / 06:47 am (CNA). The town of Castel Gandolfo has said Pope Leo XIV will again partake in the centuries-long tradition of spending a summer vacation at the lakeside papal residence in the Alban Hills south of Rome.A spokeswoman for the small town, Giulia Agostinelli, told CNA on Tuesday morning Leo will arrive sometime during the first week of July. The Vatican confirmed shortly afterward that the pope will spend July 6–20 and Aug. 15–17 in the pontifical villas at Castel Gandolfo. The Prefecture of the Papal Household also announced that on July 13 and 20, and on Aug. 15, Leo will celebrate Mass at the local parish of Castel Gandolfo before leading the Angelus from Liberty Square in front of the main papal residence. On Aug. 17, the pontiff will also lead the Angelus before returning to the Vatican.For most of July, the pope will not hold any private or public audiences. The Wednesday general audiences will resume on July 30.Pope Francis in 2013 broke with the papal practice of escaping the Roman heat in Castel Gandolfo, with its extensive gardens, preferring to remain at his Vatican residence, Santa Marta, even during the summer.Francis opted to turn the papal summer residence into a museum. It opened to the public in 2016.The gardens of the papal residence, called the Barberini Gardens, were opened to the public in 2014 as a way to increase revenue for the town, which thrived on tourism brought by visitors who came to see the pope during his stay.For Benedict XVI, the villa was a favorite summer getaway during his pontificate. It was conceded to the Holy See as one of their extraterritorial possessions under the Lateran Pact of 1929.The villa served as the papal summer residence since the pontificate of Urban VIII during the 17th century. It has a small farm created by Pope Pius XI, which produces eggs, milk, oil, vegetables, and honey either for local employees or for sale in the Vatican supermarket.This story was updated on June 17, 2025, at 8:35 a.m. ET with the confirmation of the Vatican.