Pope Leo back in Vatican after summer break

Pope Leo XIV returned to Rome on Tuesday night at the conclusion of his summer break in the nearby town of Castel Gandolfo.  

The pontiff spoke with journalists as he left Villa Barberini, the papal summer residence where he has spent 16 days in July, calling for an end to the arms trade “that goes behind every war” and briefly discussing the situation in Gaza and whether he would visit the conflict zone.

“We must encourage everyone to abandon their weapons, and also abandon all the trade that goes on behind every war,” the Pope said.

“Often, with arms trafficking, people become merely worthless instruments. We must insist on this repeatedly about the dignity of every human being: Christian, Muslim, of every religion. We are all children of God, created in the image of God. So we will continue this effort."

He was asked specifically if he would visit Gaza – the Pope said “there are many places” he would like to go, “but it’s not necessarily the formula for finding an answer”.

Leo also told journalists that his stay in Castel Gandolfo was a “working holiday” and that it was good for him to be able “to get a bit of a change of scenery”.

“I never stopped following current events,” he said, adding that he often spoke to world leaders over the phone.

“Thank God, the voice of the Church is still important. Let us continue to strive to promote peace,” he said.

Since the 1600s, popes have used Castel Gandolfo as a summer residence due to the heat in Rome at that time of year. The town is in the hills and by a large lake, and much cooler than the Italian capital.

Pope Francis, however, opted to stay in Rome during the summer, and only visited Castel Gandolfo three times, never spending the night. Pope Leo has reverted to papal custom when it comes to taking a summer break.

During his stay in Castel Gandolfo, Leo said that he was closely observing events in Gaza, especially the attack on the Holy Family Catholic Church in Gaza City on 17 July.

After the attack, the Pope spoke to Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and to the President of the State of Palestine, Mahmoud Abbas.

Pope Leo also met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during his stay in the Italian town.‍

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Photo: Pope Leo XIV he leaves Villa Barberini, the papal summer residence in Castel Gandolfo, to return to the Vatican after his summer holiday. (Photo by MARIA GRAZIA PICCIARELLA/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images.)