In a statement issued on July 5, 2026, the Prefecture of the Papal Household announced that Pope Leo XIV will travel to Castel Gandolfo this afternoon for a period of rest lasting until July 27. As he did last year, the Pontiff is suspending his private and public audiences and taking a holiday at the papal summer residence.
At Castel Gandolfo, the Pope is expected to take a break from his usual activities, notably his numerous audiences. Exceptions are, however, possible, as was the case last year with the visit of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
For the Pontiff, this is a time to rest, read, and pray, while enjoying the coolness of the magnificent gardens at Castel Gandolfo, which overlook the volcanic Lake Albano. He may also take up his favorite sport, tennis, or go swimming and horse-riding.
During these three weeks, however, the Pope will continue to lead the midday Angelus. The Marian prayer will take place in Piazza della Libertà in Castel Gandolfo rather than at the Vatican. No other engagements have been announced for this period.
A return to the Palace?
The Holy See has not specified whether the Pope will stay at the Villa Barberini – which was fitted for him last summer, but is usually the summer residence of the Secretary of State – or at the Apostolic Palace itself. Vatican sources have told I.MEDIA of plans for a return to the popes’ historic summer residence, which was converted into a museum by Pope Francis.
From July 27, Leo XIV will return to the Vatican, where he will resume his duties, notably the general audiences from August 5. As last year, however, he may return to spend a few days’ holiday at Castel Gandolfo around August 15, the Feast of the Assumption, I.MEDIA has learned.
The holidays of previous popes
Pope Francis used to stay at the Vatican every summer. He, too, however, enjoyed a slower pace of work, with no private audiences or general audiences on Wednesdays. He did lead the midday Sunday Angelus from the window of the Apostolic Palace. The Argentine had confided that he used summer time at Casa Santa Marta to pray more, sleep, read, and listen to music.
During the summer months, Benedict XVI would usually go to Castel Gandolfo, sometimes for very long periods — in 2012, he spent nearly three months there. On the shores of Lake Albano, the German pope enjoyed reading, writing, listening to music, and meditating. He also spent some of his holidays in the small village of Les Combes, in the Aosta Valley, as was the case in 2005 and 2006.
It was Pope John Paul II who was most familiar with this Alpine hamlet in Aosta, situated at an altitude of 4,500 feet (1,400 meters) and offering views of Mont Blanc. The Polish Pope visited the hamlet 10 times between 1989 and 2004. A keen hiker and skier, John Paul II also spent holidays in the Dolomites, the Apennines, and the Abruzzo mountains during his pontificate. In addition to these mountain getaways, the Pope would also visit Castel Gandolfo, usually in August.
