Pope Leo XIV Resumes Summer Retreat at Castel Gandolfo July

Pope Leo XIV is restoring the centuries-old tradition of spending summer at the papal residence of Castel Gandolfo, departing from Pope Francis' choice to remain at the Vatican during the summer months. He will stay at Castel Gandolfo from July 6 to 20 and return for the Feast of the Assumption in mid-August, celebrating Mass and delivering the Angelus blessing publicly at the location. This move revives a practice dating back to the early 1600s and followed by predecessors such as John Paul II and Benedict XVI, who favored this retreat to escape Rome's summer heat. The Vatican will suspend all public and private audiences for most of July, resuming them at the end of the month. The return of the pope to Castel Gandolfo is also expected to have a positive economic impact on the local community, which had experienced downturns during the previous papacy. The pontifical estate, larger than Vatican City itself, has been a significant historical and religious site, with parts opened to the public as a museum during Pope Francis' tenure.