Castel Gandolfo: Ahead of his upcoming summer retreat, Pope Leo XIV paid a brief visit to the picturesque town of Castel Gandolfo on Thursday, July 3, to review preparations underway at the Papal residence where he will stay from July 6 to July 20.
The Holy See Press Office confirmed that the Pope visited Villa Barberini, located in the Borgo Laudato Si’ an eco-educational village established within the Papal Villas. His visit was primarily to inspect ongoing work and ensure readiness for his stay.
Situated just 25 kilometers (about 16 miles) from Rome, Castel Gandolfo has long served as a tranquil summer refuge for popes. Pope Leo’s schedule during this period includes two public liturgical celebrations. On Sunday, July 13, he will celebrate Mass at 10:00 AM in the Pontifical Parish of Saint Thomas of Villanova, followed by the Angelus prayer at noon in Freedom Square, in front of the Apostolic Palace.
On the final day of his retreat, Sunday, July 20, the Pope will again celebrate Mass, this time at 9:30 AM in the Cathedral of Albano historically significant as the former titular diocese of then-Cardinal Robert Prevost before his papal election. At 12:00 PM that same day, Pope Leo will return to Freedom Square to lead the Angelus before heading back to the Vatican in the afternoon.
As customary during the summer months, all private audiences and General Audiences are suspended for the duration of July. General Audiences will resume on Wednesday, July 30, just ahead of the Jubilee for Youth, scheduled to take place from July 28 to August 3, during which the Pope is expected to be present.
This is not the first time Pope Leo has visited the Borgo Laudato Si’. On May 29, he toured the site, which was established in 2023 by Pope Francis as a model for environmental education and “integral ecology,” inspired by his encyclical Laudato si’. The Borgo forms part of the larger Apostolic Palace complex, which Pope Francis had repurposed into a public museum in 2016.
As the Pope prepares to spend two weeks in quiet reflection and rest, his visit underscores the continuing importance of Castel Gandolfo not just as a place of papal retreat, but also as a hub of spiritual and ecological witness.