Pope Leo XIV concludes period of rest in Castel Gandolfo

By Tiziana Campisi

Pope Leo XIV left Castel Gandolfo just after 8:30 p.m. on Monday evening, 27 July, returning to the Vatican after a period of rest that began on 5 July.

As his car departed from the papal residence, the Pope greeted a group of people who had gathered to see him off and blessed several children waiting with their parents.

He will return to Castel Gandolfo on Wednesday, 29 July, to attend “Canticle of Peace” (Cantico di Pace), a gathering of prayer and fraternity.

Promoted by the Laudato Si’ Centre for Higher Education and the Andrea Bocelli Foundation, the event forms part of celebrations marking the 800th anniversary of the death of St Francis of Assisi. It will begin at 7 p.m. in the gardens of the Pontifical Villas.

Days in Castel Gandolfo

During his 23-day stay in Castel Gandolfo, Pope Leo devoted time to prayer, reading, and some sport.

The small town, which overlooks Lake Albano in the Alban Hills outside Rome, is listed among Italy’s Most Beautiful Villages.

In addition to four Sunday appointments with the faithful—on 5, 12, 19 and 26 July—when he led the Angelus from the entrance to the Apostolic Palace, Pope Leo took part in two other public events.

On 11 July, he shared lunch in the pontifical gardens with 200 people from the Diocese of Rome living in situations of social vulnerability, including 35 children.

A week later, on 18 July, he attended a concert organized by the Diocese of Albano in the courtyard of the Apostolic Palace.

The Pope also made two outings for three private visits during the final week of his stay.

On 20 July, he visited the Benedictine Abbey of Montecassino. On 22 July, he travelled to the Sanctuary of the Most Holy Trinity at Vallepietra before visiting the Monasteries of St. Benedict and St. Scholastica at Subiaco.