Castel Gandolfo: Pope Leo XIV will take part in the Feast of Our Lady of the Lake in Castel Gandolfo on Saturday, becoming the first Pope to travel by boat during the traditional procession on Lake Albano.
Pope will preside over Mass at 6 p.m. in the Church of Maria Santissima del Lago, which was consecrated by Pope Saint Paul VI on August 15, 1977. After the Mass, he will join the procession carrying the statue of Our Lady of the Lake.
The procession will begin at the church, which belongs to the Pontifical Parish of Saint Thomas of Villanova, and continue along the road towards the Tropicana beach resort. At the shoreline, the statue will be placed on a boat provided by the Castelli Romani Regional Park Authority.
Pope Leo XIV will board the same vessel and travel towards Giorgio’s Beach, located below the Apostolic Palace. He will be accompanied by around ten civilian boats, including two canoes, as well as several law enforcement vessels.
The procession on the lake is expected to last about 25 minutes. For safety reasons, faithful will not be allowed to follow the procession by swimming this year, a practice that has taken place during previous celebrations.
The Feast of Our Lady of the Lake is an important tradition for the people of Castel Gandolfo. It began in 1954 during the Marian Year, when parish priest Father Dino Sella introduced the celebration with the aim of involving people whose work was connected to the lake.
The Church of Maria Santissima del Lago was built 23 years later. Pope Saint Paul VI consecrated it in 1977, while Pope Saint John Paul II visited the church in 1979. Both Popes took part in the procession, although neither travelled on the lake as Pope Leo XIV will do.
The invitation for Pope Leo XIV to attend this year’s celebration was proposed about a year ago by Father Tadeusz Rozmus, parish priest of Saint Thomas of Villanova, following a request from local residents.
The event has brought together the municipal administration, the Diocese of Albano, law enforcement agencies and local organisations, including the local tourism association and the Castelli Romani Regional Park.
Local authorities and organisers have expressed their gratitude to Pope Leo XIV for joining a celebration that has a special place in the life of the community.
This year’s feast is also part of celebrations marking 400 years of the Popes’ presence in Castel Gandolfo, which began with Pope Urban VIII in 1626.
Father Rozmus said the Pope’s presence gives the thanksgiving celebrations a deeper meaning and highlights appreciation for the natural beauty of the lake and surrounding mountains.
The celebrations will continue on Sunday, August 30, when Father Rozmus will celebrate Mass in the Church of Our Lady of the Lake. The Mass will be dedicated to motorcyclists who travel through the Castelli Romani area during the weekend.
Some of the motorcyclists will also join the Angelus prayer led by Pope Leo XIV.