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First Post
04-07-2025
- First Post
Pope Leo to escape summer heat at Castel Gandolfo. The history of the villa, where the pontiffs holiday
Pope Leo XIV is returning to tradition by travelling to Castel Gandolfo on Sunday (July 6). The pontiff will be in the lake town, taking a break as the heatwave across Europe intensifies. But what do we know of this papal villa? read more Pope Leo XIV is set to resume a tradition that dates back to the 17th century when he heads out of Vatican City for a summer vacation. The Pontiff will be heading to Castel Gandolfo, the lakeside town about an hour south of Rome, on Sunday (July 6). The tradition was abandoned by Pope Leo's predecessor, Pope Francis, for the 12 years that he presided over the Vatican. Pope Leo is set to stay at the summer retreat from July 6 to July 20, stated the Vatican. But what is this place? STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD What is Castel Gandolfo? The town is nestled in the Alban Hills, approximately 25 kilometres southeast of Rome, overlooking the serene Lake Albano. The palace was built by Pope Urban VIII in 1624 and is a former Roman villa featuring vast Renaissance-style gardens that was adapted into a papal summer residence. The lake town has been owned by the Vatican since 1596. At 55 hectares (136 acres), it is bigger than Vatican City itself. According to the Vatican, Leo will move to the papal retreat of Castel Gandolfo from July 6 to July 20 for a period of rest. Although he will not stay at the palace, but another Vatican-owned property, reported news agency Reuters. People walk in front of the Apostolic Palace in the central square of the town of Castel Gandolfo. Reuters Though Leo's vacation will largely be private, spent within a Vatican-owned building, he is expected to appear publicly at religious celebrations on July 13 and 20. Another short stay has been planned around the Catholic Assumption feast day in August, the Vatican said. Why did Pope Francis not visit the summer home? The late Pope Francis, who died in April, deliberately avoided many of the traditional trappings and splendour of the papacy. One of them was choosing to stay at his humble Vatican residence over Castel Gandolfo for summer stays. So, during the years of his papacy, the tradition of travelling to the Castle Gandolfo was halted. Before him, both of his 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. How have the people of Castel Gondalfo reacted? The residents of the town are extremely excited about Pope's visit, as many feel that it will boost local tourism and business. Mayor Alberto De Angelis told news agency Reuters that residents were excited about the visit. 'The presence of the popes in Castel Gandolfo has always meant a lot of activity, a lot of economic growth,' he said. 'Pope Leo has given us a wonderful gift,' Stefano Carosi, the owner of a coffee shop on the town's main square, said. 'The pope has always been important here, because he attracts people.' People sit at a restaurant overlooking Lake Albano in Castel Gandolfo. Reuters Francis had Castel Gandolfo's papal palace turned into a museum and opened the gardens to visitors. According to Marina Rossi, owner of a local mosaic studio, tourist visits have increased beyond the summer papal audiences, with people now coming more frequently. 'It was more of a hit-and-run tourism, because there was the audience and then they would leave,' she told Reuters. 'Now there is a steady flow of tourism throughout the whole year.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Rossi believes Leo's return offers the town an opportunity to attract even more tourists. 'It's an important moment,' she said. 'I won't hide my happiness.'As for what Leo might do during his vacation, Maurizio Carosi, brother of Stefano, had a suggestion, saying he'd tell the pope, 'If you want a good glass of wine, come visit with me!' What about Europe's heatwave? Europe is currently in the middle of a heatwave with temperatures having exceeded 40 degrees Celsius in several places. So far, at least eight people have lost their lives due to the extreme heatwave gripping Europe, reported Reuters. According to reports, two people have lost their lives in France while the weather department issued a red alert, the highest extreme heat warning across 16 regions in the nation, including Paris. Hot temperatures have also scorched the United Kingdom, which is reporting its second heatwave of the summer. Spain and France have also reported casualties as temperatures shoot up. With inputs from agencies


NDTV
03-07-2025
- NDTV
With Holiday At Summer Residence, Pope Leo Revives Centuries-Old Tradition
Pope Leo will revive a centuries-old tradition on Sunday by taking a holiday at Castel Gandolfo, where residents of the lakeside town hope for a tourism boost after the late Pope Francis shunned taking a summer break. Leo, elected pope on May 8 after the death of Francis, will spend July 6-20 an hour's drive south of Rome in the sleepy hill town of about 8,900 residents on the shores of Lake Albano. The town's mayor and business owners hope his stay - the first by a pope in 12 years - will attract tourists hoping to see the new leader of the Roman Catholic Church. The Vatican has owned a papal palace in the town, including vast Renaissance-style gardens, since 1596, but Francis, who shunned much of the pomp and privilege of the papacy, chose not to take vacations, spending the summer in his Vatican residence. "Pope Leo has given us a wonderful gift," Stefano Carosi, the owner of a coffee shop on the town's main square, said. "The pope has always been important here ... because he attracts people." Mayor Alberto De Angelis said residents were excited about the visit. "The presence of the popes in Castel Gandolfo has always meant a lot of activity, a lot of economic growth," he said. While Leo is expected to spend most of his vacation out of the public eye, staying in a Vatican-owned building behind a gated wall, residents and tourists will have the opportunity to see him at religious celebrations on July 13 and 20. Dozens of popes have spent the summer months at Castel Gandolfo, where it is cooler than in Rome, which has been sweltering in an early summer heatwave with temperatures reaching more than 37 degrees Celsius (99 degrees Fahrenheit). Francis Left 'long-lasting' museum legacy Francis had Castel Gandolfo's papal palace turned into a museum and opened the gardens to visitors. Leo will not stay at the palace and the museum will remain open to the public, instead staying at another Vatican property. Although Francis never spent the night in Castel Gandolfo, residents said his decision to open the museum has had long-lasting benefits. Marina Rossi, owner of a mosaic studio in the town, said tourists used to come only in the summer to see the pope at one of his audiences, but now they came more frequently. "It was more of a hit-and-run tourism, because there was the audience and then they would leave," she said. "Now there is a steady flow of tourism throughout the whole year." Now, with Leo coming back, said Rossi, it gave the town the chance to attract even more tourists. "It's an important moment," she said. "I won't hide my happiness." As for what Leo might do during his vacation, Maurizio Carosi, brother of Stefano, had a suggestion, saying he'd tell the pope: "If you want a good glass of wine, come visit with me!"


Time of India
03-07-2025
- Time of India
'Wonderful gift': Pope Leo to go on a 2 week vacation; locals thrilled as Castel Gandolfo awaits first pope in 12 years
Pope Leo For the first time in over a decade, Castel Gandolfo will once again host a reigning pope, as Pope Leo prepares to revive a long-standing tradition of taking a summer break in the serene hill town south of Rome. From 6 to 20 July, Pope Leo, who was elected on 8 May following the death of Pope Francis , will stay in the quiet lakeside community of just under 9,000 residents nestled on the shores of Lake Albano. Locals are welcoming the news with enthusiasm, hoping the papal presence will breathe fresh life into the town's tourism industry. The Vatican has held ownership of a grand papal residence in Castel Gandolfo since 1596, but Pope Francis notably declined to use it, instead opting to spend his summers within the Vatican and converting the palace into a museum. While the museum will remain open, Pope Leo has chosen to stay in a nearby Vatican-owned property during his retreat. For local business owners and civic leaders, the return of a pope is a welcome change, the first by a pope in 12 years. 'Pope Leo has given us a wonderful gift,' said Stefano Carosi, who runs a coffee shop on the town's main square. 'The pope has always been important here... because he attracts people,' Reuters quoted Carosi. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo Mayor Alberto De Angelis also expressed excitement about the visit. 'The presence of the popes in Castel Gandolfo has always meant a lot of activity, a lot of economic growth,' he said, describing the community's excitement around Leo's visit. While Pope Leo is expected to keep a low profile behind the walls of the Vatican compound, the faithful and visitors will have a chance to see him during two public religious celebrations, scheduled for 13 and 20 July. Temperatures in Rome have already soared past 37°C this summer, making the cooler climes of Castel Gandolfo, historically a papal escape from the heat, particularly inviting. Dozens of popes before Leo have retreated here during the summer months. Although Pope Francis never stayed overnight in the town, residents credit him for opening the palace's gardens and converting the historic residence into a museum. 'It was more of a hit-and-run tourism, because there was the audience and then they would leave,' said Marina Rossi, who owns a mosaic studio. 'Now there is a steady flow of tourism throughout the whole year.' Still, with Pope Leo's return, she sees an even greater opportunity for the town. 'It's an important moment,' Rossi said. 'I won't hide my happiness.' And for those wondering what the pontiff might get up to in his downtime, Stefano's brother Maurizio had a light-hearted suggestion, 'If you want a good glass of wine, come visit with me!'

Straits Times
03-07-2025
- Straits Times
Taking a break, Pope Leo revives centuries-old tradition
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy - Pope Leo will revive a centuries-old tradition on Sunday by taking a holiday at Castel Gandolfo, where residents of the lakeside town hope for a tourism boost after the late Pope Francis shunned taking a summer break. Leo, elected pope on May 8 after the death of Francis, will spend July 6-20 an hour's drive south of Rome in the sleepy hill town of about 8,900 residents on the shores of Lake Albano. The town's mayor and business owners hope his stay - the first by a pope in 12 years - will attract tourists hoping to see the new leader of the Roman Catholic Church. The Vatican has owned a papal palace in the town, including vast Renaissance-style gardens, since 1596, but Francis, who shunned much of the pomp and privilege of the papacy, chose not to take vacations, spending the summer in his Vatican residence. "Pope Leo has given us a wonderful gift," Stefano Carosi, the owner of a coffee shop on the town's main square, said. "The pope has always been important here ... because he attracts people." Mayor Alberto De Angelis said residents were excited about the visit. "The presence of the popes in Castel Gandolfo has always meant a lot of activity, a lot of economic growth," he said. While Leo is expected to spend most of his vacation out of the public eye, staying in a Vatican-owned building behind a gated wall, residents and tourists will have the opportunity to see him at religious celebrations on July 13 and 20. Dozens of popes have spent the summer months at Castel Gandolfo, where it is cooler than in Rome, which has been sweltering in an early summer heatwave with temperatures reaching more than 37 degrees Celsius (99 degrees Fahrenheit). FRANCIS LEFT 'LONG-LASTING' MUSEUM LEGACY Francis had Castel Gandolfo's papal palace turned into a museum and opened the gardens to visitors. Leo will not stay at the palace and the museum will remain open to the public, instead staying at another Vatican property. Although Francis never spent the night in Castel Gandolfo, residents said his decision to open the museum has had long-lasting benefits. Marina Rossi, owner of a mosaic studio in the town, said tourists used to come only in the summer to see the pope at one of his audiences, but now they came more frequently. "It was more of a hit-and-run tourism, because there was the audience and then they would leave," she said. "Now there is a steady flow of tourism throughout the whole year." Now, with Leo coming back, said Rossi, it gave the town the chance to attract even more tourists. "It's an important moment," she said. "I won't hide my happiness." As for what Leo might do during his vacation, Maurizio Carosi, brother of Stefano, had a suggestion, saying he'd tell the pope: "If you want a good glass of wine, come visit with me!" REUTERS


The Star
03-07-2025
- The Star
Taking a break, Pope Leo revives centuries-old tradition
People walk in the town of Castel Gandolfo, near Rome, where Pope Leo will spend two weeks of vacation in July, Italy, July 1, 2025. REUTERS/Remo Casilli CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy (Reuters) -Pope Leo will revive a centuries-old tradition on Sunday by taking a holiday at Castel Gandolfo, where residents of the lakeside town hope for a tourism boost after the late Pope Francis shunned taking a summer break. Leo, elected pope on May 8 after the death of Francis, will spend July 6-20 an hour's drive south of Rome in the sleepy hill town of about 8,900 residents on the shores of Lake Albano. The town's mayor and business owners hope his stay - the first by a pope in 12 years - will attract tourists hoping to see the new leader of the Roman Catholic Church. The Vatican has owned a papal palace in the town, including vast Renaissance-style gardens, since 1596, but Francis, who shunned much of the pomp and privilege of the papacy, chose not to take vacations, spending the summer in his Vatican residence. "Pope Leo has given us a wonderful gift," Stefano Carosi, the owner of a coffee shop on the town's main square, said. "The pope has always been important here ... because he attracts people." Mayor Alberto De Angelis said residents were excited about the visit. "The presence of the popes in Castel Gandolfo has always meant a lot of activity, a lot of economic growth," he said. While Leo is expected to spend most of his vacation out of the public eye, staying in a Vatican-owned building behind a gated wall, residents and tourists will have the opportunity to see him at religious celebrations on July 13 and 20. Dozens of popes have spent the summer months at Castel Gandolfo, where it is cooler than in Rome, which has been sweltering in an early summer heatwave with temperatures reaching more than 37 degrees Celsius (99 degrees Fahrenheit). FRANCIS LEFT 'LONG-LASTING' MUSEUM LEGACY Francis had Castel Gandolfo's papal palace turnedinto a museum and opened the gardens to visitors. Leo will not stay at the palace and the museum will remain open to the public, instead staying at another Vatican property. Although Francis never spent the night in Castel Gandolfo, residents said his decision to open the museum has had long-lasting benefits. Marina Rossi, owner of a mosaic studio in the town, said tourists used to come only in the summer to see the pope at one of his audiences, but now they came more frequently. "It was more of a hit-and-run tourism, because there was the audience and then they would leave," she said. "Now there is a steady flow of tourism throughout the whole year." Now, with Leo coming back, said Rossi, it gave the town the chance to attract even more tourists. "It's an important moment," she said. "I won't hide my happiness." As for what Leo might do during his vacation, Maurizio Carosi, brother of Stefano, had a suggestion, saying he'd tell the pope: "If you want a good glass of wine, come visit with me!" (Reporting by Joshua McElwee and Claudia Chieppa; Editing by Janet Lawrence)