A New Destination: Castel Gandolfo Awaits Your Arrival
The Apostolic Palace in Castel Gandolfo, a summer residence for popes dating back to the early 1600s, has been open to the public as a museum since 2016 following Pope Francis's declaration. However, a significant change occurred in 2025 when Pope Leo XIV moved into the villa, marking the first time in over a decade that a reigning pope took up residence there.
Pope Leo XIV is not staying in the main Apostolic Palace but rather in Villa Barberini, a side building in the city centre. This arrangement allows the Apostolic Palace to remain open as a museum for visitors while the pope enjoys the privacy and residential comfort of Villa Barberini. The villa has been refurbished recently, including the installation of a tennis court and pool upgrades, in anticipation of the pope's arrival.
The tradition of popes spending summers in Castel Gandolfo has long been a place of rest, prayer, and pastoral presence. Popes such as Pius XII, John XXIII, Paul VI, John Paul II, and Benedict XVI used it as a summer residence and a place to connect with the local community. Pope Francis broke with this tradition by not spending summers there and instead remaining in Vatican City. Pope Leo XIV's decision to return reflects a renewed embrace of this tradition and a desire to restore a close, pastoral connection with the town and its people.
During his stay, the palace and gardens will also remain accessible to the public. Tourists can now enter the palace, and hoteliers, innkeepers, and souvenir vendors hope for better business with the new Pope's move.
Pope Leo XIV's programmatic follows the line of his predecessor, but not in externals. The Argentine Pope Francis preferred to rest at home rather than taking vacations, and he cancelled all his audiences during his vacations. In contrast, Pope Leo XIV plays tennis and plans to use the swimming pool and bocce court. He will also give the Angelus prayer in Castel Gandolfo next week.
In summary, while the palace remains a museum, the overall papal summer residence tradition at Castel Gandolfo is revived with Pope Leo XIV residing in Villa Barberini for extended summer periods, balancing papal privacy with public access and historical legacy.
- Pope Leo XIV's residence in Villa Barberini, a home-and-garden setting in the city center, marks a revival of the papal lifestyle tradition at Castel Gandolfo, maintaining the balance between papal privacy and public access.
- The lifestyle changes in the papal residence, with the addition of a tennis court and pool upgrades in Villa Barberini, reflect a shift towards a more active and engaging summer experience for Pope Leo XIV.
