Vatican City: Pope Leo XIV returned on Monday evening to the Barberini Palace in Castel Gandolfo for an overnight stay, the Holy See Press Office confirmed. The visit marks another brief pause in the Pontiff’s schedule, with no public audiences planned during his time away from the Vatican.
According to the Vatican statement, the Pope resumed his private activities from the papal residence on Tuesday morning and is expected to return to the Vatican in the afternoon. The Holy See emphasized that the short stay was part of the Pope’s personal schedule rather than an official engagement.
This visit follows Pope Leo’s earlier stays at Castel Gandolfo over the summer months. From July 6 to 22, the Pope spent time at the historic residence, traditionally used by popes as a retreat, and he returned again in mid-August for the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The Barberini Palace and adjoining grounds have been closely tied to the papacy for centuries, serving both as a summer residence and, in recent years, as a place connected to ecological projects. On September 5, Pope Leo visited the Laudato Si’ Village, an initiative created on 55 hectares of former pontifical land, where he met employees and highlighted the Church’s commitment to environmental stewardship.
The brief return underlines Pope Leo’s continued personal and pastoral connection to Castel Gandolfo, balancing his duties at the Vatican with moments of rest and engagement in projects that symbolize his priorities for creation care and spiritual renewal.