Leo XIV to Reside at Castel Gandolfo During the Summer

A Bit of History

The Castel Gandolfo estate lies on the ruins of one of the most famous villas of Antiquity, the Albanum Domitianum, owned by Emperor Domitian (81-96). Abandoned, the imperial villa fell into ruin. In the Middle Ages, fortified villages (castelli) were built around Lake Albano. Around 1200, the Gandolfi family built a castle that took the name Castel Gandolfo.

In 1596, under Clement VIII (1592-1605), the Apostolic Chamber purchased the fortress. Urban VIII (1623-1644) commissioned the architect Carlo Maderno (1556-1629) to carry out renovations on the villa. Bernini (1598-1680) participated in the construction. Urban VIII, however, preferred to stay at the neighboring Villa Barberini, his family palace.

The first pope to stay at Castel Gandolfo was Alexander VII (1655-1667). He continued the restoration of the fortress, which remained uninhabited for a long time. It was not until Benedict XIV (1740-1758) that a pope resided at Castel Gandolfo again. He continued the expansion of the villa and had the balcony of blessings built in 1749.

Clement XIV (1769-1774) continued the work and acquired Villa Cybo in 1773, which allowed for the expansion of the papal gardens. During the French occupation in the early 19th century, Napoleonic troops pillaged and sacked the area, forcing Pius VII (1800-1823) to restore the palace. Gregory XVI (1831-1846) became a regular visitor to Castel Gandolfo.

Pius IX (1846-1878) was the last pope to reside there before the 20th century: the annexation of Rome in 1870 marked the end of the Papal States, and Castel Gandolfo was deserted for a long period. It was not until the Lateran Agreements of February 11, 1929, that Castel Gandolfo Palace was recognized as the exclusive property of the Holy See.

Pius XI initiated major renovations to the papal residence and decided to build the Vatican Astronomical Observatory in the 1930s. The Castel Gandolfo estate was not just the summer residence of the popes: 25 hectares of the property were used for farming, ensuring the Vatican's supply of milk and early vegetables.

The maintenance of the gardens and agricultural crops, as well as livestock breeding, were the responsibility of the Directorate of the Pontifical Villas. About fifty people provided all services related to the papal stays at Castel Gandolfo. During the last pontificates, Castel Gandolfo witnessed events related to the personalities of successive popes.

John XXIII (1958-1963) was accustomed to leaving the estate incognito; John Paul II (1978-2005) enjoyed meeting the village's young people, and Benedict XVI enjoyed playing Mozart, Bach, and Beethoven sonatas on the piano. Castel Gandolfo also witnessed the deaths of Pius XII on October 9, 1958, and Paul VI on August 6, 1978.

As for Pope Francis, he chose not to reside at Castel Gandolfo during the summer. In an interview with Il Messagero on June 29, 2014, he stated: "I don't go to Castel Gandolfo because I don't need to go on vacation. I haven't left Rome since I was elected Pope. And I don't feel tired." 

Communiqué from the Prefecture of the Pontifical Household

On the afternoon of Sunday, July 6, the Holy Father Leo XIV will travel to the Pontifical Villas of Castel Gandolfo for a period of rest.

On Sunday, July 13, at 10:00 a.m., the Holy Father will celebrate Mass in the Pontifical Parish of San Tommaso da Villanova in Castel Gandolfo. At noon, he will recite the Angelus in Piazza della Libertà, in front of the Apostolic Palace.

On Sunday, July 20, at 9:30 a.m., the Holy Father will celebrate Mass in the Cathedral of Albano. At noon, he will recite the Angelus in Piazza della Libertà in Castel Gandolfo. In the afternoon, the Holy Father will return to the Vatican.

During the month of July, all private audiences and the general audiences on Wednesdays, July  2, 9, 16, and 23 are suspended.

General Audiences 

On Friday, August 15, at 10:00 a.m., the Holy Father will celebrate Mass in the Pontifical Parish of Castel Gandolfo. At 12:00 p.m., the Angelus will be recited in Piazza della Libertà.

On Sunday, August 17, at 12:00 p.m., the Angelus will be recited in Piazza della Libertà in Castel Gandolfo. In the afternoon, the Holy Father will return to the Vatican.