By returning to the village of Castel Gandolfo located about 18 miles from Rome, Leo XIV will be reviving a four-century-old tradition. It’s a custom to which John Paul II (who called Castel Gandolfo the “second Vatican”) and Benedict XVI (who chose to formally end his pontificate there on February 28, 2013, at 8 p.m.) were particularly attached. Pius XII, in 1958, and Paul VI, in 1978, died at this estate, which is located away from Rome but enjoys Vatican extraterritoriality.
Tradition with a twist
A notable difference from his predecessors is that Leo XIV will not be staying directly in the apostolic palace overlooking the Piazza della Libertà, located in the center of the village. In fact, this building has been converted into a museum and will remain open to visitors during the pope's stay.
Instead, Pope Leo will live in an annex a few hundred yards away: the Palazzo Barberini, located on a busy road and therefore subject to significant security measures.
However, it’s from the balcony of the apostolic palace that he will give his Sunday blessing during the Angelus on July 13 and 20, as well as on August 17.
Three public Masses are scheduled during his stay. On July 13, he will celebrate Mass in the village parish church dedicated to St. Thomas of Villanova. The titular saint was an Augustinian monk, of whom the Pope carries a relic in his pectoral cross.
On July 20, he will visit the cathedral of Albano — the diocese to which Castel Gandolfo belongs — to celebrate Mass in the place where he was briefly titular cardinal during the last weeks of Francis' pontificate, after being promoted to cardinal-bishop.
Finally, on August 15, Leo XIV will celebrate Mass on the Feast of the Assumption outdoors in the Piazza della Libertà.
In addition, on July 9, he will celebrate a private Mass for the staff of the Papal Villas and Gardens of Castel Gandolfo “for the protection of Creation,” following the canon recently presented at the Vatican as part of the 10th anniversary of Pope Francis' encyclical Laudato si'.
Breathing space for body and soul
The rest of his schedule is not public, but Leo XIV's “vacation” will above all be a welcome spiritual retreat for this pope steeped in Augustinian spirituality and committed to setting aside time for calm and reading.
The Pontiff is likely to take advantage of this time to prepare his speeches for the Jubilee of Youth he will preside over in Rome in mid-summer. He may also work on other documents for publication in the fall. The possible resumption of the apostolic exhortation on the poor, which was already in preparation at the end of Francis' pontificate, could be one of the projects in the works.
Far from the pressures of the Vatican and the Roman Curia, Leo XIV will also be able to continue his discernment with a view to future appointments in the government of the Church.
Lastly, the Pope will have at his disposal the sports facilities at Castel Gandolfo, including an indoor swimming pool and a tennis court. Tennis is one of his great passions, which he seems to have continued to practice since his election. But all this ought to remain a private matter, away from the cameras.
