Pope Leo XIV makes a brief visit to the town of Castel Gandolfo to inspect the works in progress at the Papal residence
Newsroom (04 July 2025, Gaudium Press )Pope Leo XIV made a brief visit to Villa Barberini in the Borgo Laudato Si’ (“Laudato Si’ Village”) in Castel Gandolfo on Thursday afternoon to oversee ongoing renovations at the Papal residence, where he will begin his summer retreat on Sunday, July 6, the Holy See Press Office confirmed.
The Pope will reside in the town, located 25 kilometers (16 miles) southeast of Rome, from July 6 to July 20 for a period of rest. During his stay, he will celebrate Mass at the Pontifical Parish of Saint Thomas of Villanova on Sunday, July 13, at 10:00 AM, followed by the Angelus prayer at noon in Freedom Square, outside the Apostolic Palace.
On his final day, July 20, Pope Leo XIV will celebrate Mass at 9:30 AM in the Cathedral of Albano, a diocese where he served as titular bishop before his election as pontiff. He will recite the Angelus again at noon in Freedom Square before returning to the Vatican that afternoon.
The Holy See has suspended all private and general audiences for July, with weekly General Audiences resuming on July 30. The Pope is expected to participate in the Jubilee for Youth, scheduled from July 28 to August 3.
This marks Pope Leo XIV’s second visit to Castel Gandolfo this year. On May 29, he toured the Borgo Laudato Si’, an educational initiative launched by Pope Francis in 2023 within the Papal Villas to promote environmental awareness, reflecting the “integral ecology” principles of the 2015 encyclical Laudato Si’. During that visit, he also explored the Apostolic Palace, which Pope Francis opened as a public museum complex in 2016.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Vatican News
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