logo
Pope Leo to resume papal tradition with plan to escape Rome's summer heat

Pope Leo to resume papal tradition with plan to escape Rome's summer heat

BreakingNews.ie17-06-2025
Pope Leo XIV will resume the papal tradition of taking a summer break outside Rome, the Vatican has announced.
Leo will head to the papal retreat of Castel Gandolfo, south of Rome, from July 6-20 'for a period of rest' and again for a few days over the Catholic Assumption feast day in August, the Vatican said.
Advertisement
Leo visited the papal summer palace last month, raising speculation that he would resume a tradition that goes back centuries.
Pope Urban VIII built the palace in 1624 to give popes an escape from the sweltering Roman summer.
Leo will head to the papal retreat of Castel Gandolfo (Andrew Medichini/AP)
It was enlarged over succeeding pontificates to its present size of 136 acres, bigger than Vatican City itself.
Pope Francis, who died just after Easter, was known as a workaholic homebody who never took a proper holiday during his 12-year papacy, staying at the Vatican even during the hot summer months.
Advertisement
Both of Francis' immediate predecessors, John Paul II and Benedict XVI, spent time at Castel Gandolfo, interspersed with visits to the northern Italian Alps.
Benedict was especially fond of Castel Gandolfo, closing his papacy out there in 2013.
Partly to offset an economic downturn in the local town due to the papal absence, Francis opened the palazzo's gardens to the public in 2014 and later turned part of it into a museum.
In what will be a boon to the local community, Leo is resuming the traditional Angelus blessing to the faithful gathered in front of Castel Gandolfo on July 13 and July 20, and again on August 15 and 17, when he returns for a short stay over Italy's most important summer holiday.
Advertisement
Public and private audiences at the Vatican will be suspended for most of July, resuming on July 30.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Venice should charge visitors £87 a DAY to reduce 'tide' of tourists who 'don't even know what culture is', local business leader demands
Venice should charge visitors £87 a DAY to reduce 'tide' of tourists who 'don't even know what culture is', local business leader demands

Daily Mail​

time5 hours ago

  • Daily Mail​

Venice should charge visitors £87 a DAY to reduce 'tide' of tourists who 'don't even know what culture is', local business leader demands

Venice has made five million Euro (£4.7million) with a daily five Euro (£4.35) tourist tax this summer, but some businesses want it raised to clamp down on 'unclassy' visitors. The charge was introduced in April as part of a trial run following one last year and was payable over 54 selected days until last Sunday by day trippers who visited the iconic Italian lagoon city. Officials said that the charge, payable by visitors who arrived for the day between 8.30am and 4pm, was paid by 720,000 compared to 485,000 last year. However, Setrak Tokatzian, president of the Venice's historic Piazza San Marco Association of small businesses, has urged council chiefs to up the tax to an eye-watering 100 Euro (£87). Mr Tokatzian, who runs a jewellery shop in the heart of Venice, said it would be worth it because many of the 30million people who visit the city each year are lowering the tone of the city. In what might be considered a rather snobby interview with the local Corriere del Veneto, he said: 'Every day I see rivers of people coming to the city, but without a goal. 'They move from side to side, often guided by tour operators, climb gondolas, and I'm sorry to say but this sort of tourism is obscene. 'There is a total over explosion of tourists, these people wander around and don't even bother going into any of the shops, they don't even know where they are going. 'No one goes into any of the designer stores and bus branded goods, they just buy fake goods from the street sellers. 'But it's not just that. I have also heard from hoteliers who tell me there has been a drop in overnight guests and the restaurants tell me the same thing. 'I myself have seen people, when they do stop to eat something, divide up a plate of pasta or share a drink. People line up at fountains to get water instead of buying bottles from a shop. 'Where are the classy people, the ones interested in the city and who really bring something to it?' Earlier his year Venice was the venue for billionaire Amazon boss Jeff Bezos's wedding to Lauren Sanchez. And Mr Tokatzian was one of many including the mayor, who hit out at critics of the event. He added of over tourism: 'I think it is a widespread phenomena throughout Italy, from what I have head from counterparts in Milan and other cities, it's all the same. 'In St Mark's Square no one stops to look in the shop windows, a tide of people just arrive from the mainland in the morning on boats and then go home in the afternoon, without even appreciating where they have been. 'I personally believe we need to put some sort of threshold on this over tourism, and charge these people 100 Euro. 'There are tides of people coming in from the campsites nearby every day with wrist bands on and they don't even know what culture is, and you can see it in them when they arrive. 'And then what's worse is that they leave without buying a thing, except from the street hawkers who in my eyes make money illegally, and this is a daily battle for us.' He went on: 'The tourists come; they don't buy anything but they are happy for someone to take their picture feeding grains to the pigeons in in St Mark's Square.' The idea was dismissed by consumer group, Assoutenti, with spokesman Gabriele Melluso saying it was 'madness and unworkable'. He said: 'The truth, and the businesses all know it, is that tourists don't buy in Venice because the prices are too high. 'To have a bite to eat in a cafe or restaurant in the city of Venice, in one of the tourist areas, is to pay some of the highest prices in Italy and that's why when people do visit, they try and save money. 'To combat over tourism in Venice and Italy, we don't need unrealistic taxes that transform the beauty of our country into something just for the rich but a well booking system and better PR.' No one from Venice City Council was immediately available to discuss the idea.

A Place In The Sun's Laura Hamilton displays her incredible figure in a blue halterneck bikini as she jets off to Sardinia with her children
A Place In The Sun's Laura Hamilton displays her incredible figure in a blue halterneck bikini as she jets off to Sardinia with her children

Daily Mail​

time6 hours ago

  • Daily Mail​

A Place In The Sun's Laura Hamilton displays her incredible figure in a blue halterneck bikini as she jets off to Sardinia with her children

Laura Hamilton displayed her incredible figure in a blue halterneck bikini as she jetted off to Sardinia with her children. The A Place In The Sun presenter, 43, has been enjoying a family holiday at Forte Village resort in South Sardinia. Joined by her children Rocco, 11, and Tahlia, 10, who she shares with ex-husband Alex Goward, Laura soaked up the Italian sun. She looked sensational in a light blue halterneck bikini top with low-rise briefs featuring gold brooches as she did matching poses with her mini-me Tahlia in an array of snaps. Documenting her trip on Instagram on Monday, Laura shared that her and the kids had enjoyed an electric bike ride around the resort before listening to a piano recital. Later the trio took to the clear-blue sea to go snorkelling at the picturesque resort. 'Sass, sparkle, and sun-kissed days at Forte Village ✨,' she captioned the snaps. 'Tahlia's the kind of girl who turns palm-lined paths into catwalks and ice cream runs into comedy shows. She's my tiny travel queen. Quirky, kind, bold, and bursting with magic.' Earlier this year, Laura revealed that she went on a date with Shaggy - and he made her pay! Laura, who split from husband Alex Goward, 44, in 2022 after a decade of marriage, shared details about her dating life in a new interview on Friday. Speaking exclusively to MailOnline, Laura confirmed that she was still single and having fun as she recalled a surprise date from over 20 years ago. Recounting meeting up with Shaggy, she explained: 'I met him for coffee and I had to pay for it. It was at Heathrow airport. 'I'd been working with him, and he said, 'I really want to meet up with you and talk about work opportunities.'' Confirming that he made up a song and sang it to her, she continued: 'God, that was over 20 years ago. I'm not sure he'd recognise me now.' Adding of her dating life now, Laura said: 'I'm busy working and dating and having fun, and I prefer to find people naturally rather than being on dating apps. 'I like to go out and meet people who have common interests. I made a decision going forward that I want to keep that aspect of my life private. 'I think it's really important that if I'm dating people - and I have been dating people - if they're not in the public eye, then they have a right to privacy. 'Just because I'm in the public eye – you never know what their job is, and they might need privacy for security reasons, and so I'm always mindful of that.' Laura shares two children Rocco, 12, and Tahlia, 10, with her ex-husband Alex, they split after 13 years together. In a statement at the time, she wrote: 'This isn't something I ever thought I'd be saying but, after 13 years of being together Alex and I have separated. 'Our children are and always will be our number one priority and we would respect privacy for our family at this time.' She has been a presenter on A Place in the Sun since 2012 and regularly posts pictures from her sun drenched holidays and filming trips on Instagram. Laura also explained that her time on the Channel 4 show has seen her through so many life changes, notably her engagement, the births of her children and her divorce. The former Dancing On Ice star described feeling like she had 'failed' amid their separation, which saw Laura move out of the couple's Surrey family home. She said: 'We are co-parenting, and it works. But even that, you know, I kind of felt like I had failed.'

Love Island's Molly Smith shows off her gym-honed abs in tiny bikini while on holiday in Positano
Love Island's Molly Smith shows off her gym-honed abs in tiny bikini while on holiday in Positano

Daily Mail​

time10 hours ago

  • Daily Mail​

Love Island's Molly Smith shows off her gym-honed abs in tiny bikini while on holiday in Positano

Love Island beauty Molly Smith showed off her sculpted abs on Monday in a sizzling Instagram bikini video. The reality star turned fitness guru, 31, looked amazing as she showed off her figure in a floral bikini by the sea in Positano, Italy. She could be seen stepping out of the water after a dip and lounging by the rippling waves as she soaked up the sun. Molly briefly tied her hair up to go swimming in the sea before wearing it down in mermaid-like waves on land, accessorising with a silver watch and Van Cleef bracelet. She wrote: 'There's no better feeling than being able to fully switch off, knowing you've already put in the work.' View this post on Instagram A post shared by M O L L Y S M I T H (@mollysmith19) Molly went on to praise her own workout plans, which she shares online, claiming that they have helped thousands to feel 'strong, confident, and empowered'. She explained that the key to having a successful fitness routine is having 'no extremes! just sustainable, powerful progress.' Fans were quick to praise the Love Island star's body in the comments section, writing: 'wow wish I had that body.'; 'That body is INSANE.' Others simply replied with heart-eye emojis. Molly told Cosmopolitan that, for her, 'exercise is about feeling strong, confident, and pushing my body to its limits.' 'I mix it up with gym sessions, home workouts, and outdoor activities like hiking or running,' she explains. Earlier last year, the Boohoo ambassador sparked engagement rumours with her boyfriend Tom Clare, 25 - just months after they formed a sweet romance on the debut series of Love Island: All Stars in January. The stars, who were crowned winners of the All Stars version of the ITV2 reality TV show, set tongues wagging among eagle-eyed fans as they soaked up the sun in the Indian Ocean island paradise in August of last year. Tom hinted that he had popped the question to Molly as he took to his Instagram to post a mirror selfie of the pair, captioning it with: 'Wifey.' In the stunning snap, the loved-up pair both looked incredibly tanned as Tom gently placed his hand around Molly's waist for the snap. Tom went shirtless and sported a pair of black swimming shorts as he struck up a smile for the camera. Molly has become a fan favourite after once again winning the nation's hearts on the All Stars 2024 edition, and was unveiled as Boohoo's new face in March of last year, also cementing her status as a model and fashion ambassador.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store