Pope Leo has much to ponder during his vacation in Castel Gandolfo

After Pope Leo XIV arrives in Castel Gandolfo for his summer break, it is unlikely to prove a real vacation for the new pontiff.

When Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was elected on 8 May 2025, it was the post-Easter period in Rome. This is the slow-down time in Rome, since the Vatican basically shuts down after the 29 June celebration of the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul.

Unlike Pope Francis, Pope Leo is continuing the tradition of spending the summer in the lakeside town about 15 miles outside of Rome and which offers a much cooler climate.