Interview with Andrea Tamburelli, Director of the Pontifical Villas
By vocation and statute, at the service of the Pope
A team effort led primarily by the Directorate of the Pontifical Villas and involving all the Departments of the Governorate of the Vatican City State, everyone gave their utmost to offer Pope Leo XIV a peaceful period of rest at Villa Barberini in Castel Gandolfo. Dr. Andrea Tamburelli, Director of the Pontifical Villas, speaks about this in an interview for the Governorate’s website news: www.vaticanstate.va
Since July 6th, Pope Leo XIV has been spending a period of rest at Castel Gandolfo. How has your daily activity changed with his presence?
Our daily activity has changed completely. The department most involved is the Floreria [furnishing and maintenance services for public and private spaces] which by its very nature is tasked with assisting the Popes during their stays and institutional activities while in Castel Gandolfo. The technical departments have also been heavily engaged, both to ensure readiness for any sudden plumbing or electrical issues and to resolve minor problems that can occur daily.
The last department deserving special mention is the gardens team, which has worked diligently to make the green areas welcoming and pleasant for the Holy Father’s walks.
The working hours have certainly increased, but everything has been carried out with joy from everyone involved, happy to welcome the long-awaited presence of the Pope in the summer apostolic residences.
The Pope has also continued with institutional commitments during this period. What has been your role, also from a logistical point of view, in these events?
Our main task, following the indications of the Regent of the Prefecture of the Papal Household, Monsignor Leonardo Sapienza, is to prepare the rooms and spaces where the Holy Father meets guests for audiences in the most suitable manner.
In addition, we are asked to accompany and seat the guests in the designated rooms, both in the Apostolic Palace and in Palazzo Barberini.
Finally, we transport and position whatever is needed for public events, from setting up barriers in front of the Apostolic Palace before the Angelus to arranging chairs and kneelers in the churches where the Holy Father celebrates Holy Mass.
What work was carried out to welcome the Pope at Villa Barberini?
This question gives me the opportunity to highlight how the entire Governorate mobilized with great effectiveness and efficiency to make the apartments where the Pope is currently staying both welcoming and functional.
The Holy Father informed the President of the Governorate that he intended to stay in the apartments within Palazzo Barberini. Following this decision, I was entrusted with coordinating all the teams from the various Departments of the Vatican City State involved in the activities necessary to modernize the apartments and adapt them to the needs of Pope Leo XIV.
I will not list the individual Departments involved, so as not to risk leaving anyone out, but I can say that the response was extraordinary. We demonstrated that we are a united and cohesive body under the firm and present leadership of our Government Bodies.
I must say that at times the activities were hectic and coordinating the various teams was no easy task, but in the end, we believe we fully achieved our goals.
Allow me to thank all those who worked here and those who supported us from Rome—on some days we had over 30 people coming in from the city. In each one of them, I could see dedication, commitment, and above all the joy of offering their work to our Pontiff.
What does it mean for the Pontifical Villas, with its facilities and spaces, to support the institutional role of the Pope?
It means, above all, enabling colleagues from other Departments to perform their work in the best possible way. More specifically, this type of support involves making their accommodations and work areas fully functional.
I refer in particular to the complete renovation of the Swiss Guard barracks within the Apostolic Palace, the upgrading and improvement of the Gendarmerie barracks, and finally, the preparation of facilities specifically arranged for the doctors, nurses, and healthcare professionals who have taken turns being on call to assist the Holy Father—and us all—in case of need. I must say that we all felt more protected and special during these days.
What is your assessment of these days in which the Pope has been a guest at the Pontifical Villas?
The assessment is absolutely positive. First and foremost, we have resumed the primary role that the Directorate of the Pontifical Villas has held over the past 100 years: assisting the Popes during their periods of summer rest.
Furthermore, after several years of focusing mainly on maintaining the historic buildings and their related services, caring for the monumental gardens and poetic landscape, we can once again work full-time directly for the Holy Father.
