Pope Leo XIV at Villa Barberini in Castel Gandolfo

The Dedication of the Pontifical Villas

Welcomed by a joyful crowd, Pope Leo XIV arrived on Sunday afternoon, July 6th, at the estate of Villa Barberini in Castel Gandolfo, where he will stay until Sunday, July 20th.
Earlier that day, during the Angelus, before departing, the Holy Father had said: “This afternoon I will be going to Castel Gandolfo, where I plan to stay for a brief period of rest. I wish everyone the opportunity to enjoy a time of vacation to refresh both body and spirit.”

Upon his arrival at Villa Barberini, the Pope was greeted by the Bishop of Albano, Monsignor Vincenzo Viva; Sister Raffaella Petrini, President of the Governorate of the Vatican City State, the parish priest of the Pontifical Parish of Saint Thomas of Villanova in Castel Gandolfo, Salesian Father Tadeusz Rozmus, Mr. Andrea Tamburelli, Director of the Pontifical Villas and Mr. Alberto De Angelis, Mayor of Castel Gandolfo.

The Pope is staying at Villa Barberini, in the apartment that was formerly designated for the Secretary of State. The Governorate of the Vatican City State, which oversees the complex of the Pontifical Villas, carried out renovation and adaptation work on the apartment in order to accommodate the Holy Father.

Villa Barberini is an integral part of the Pontifical Villas and features extensive gardens, including the Belvedere Gardens. The building was originally built in the 17th century by Taddeo Barberini, nephew of Pope Urban VIII, and later expanded based on a design by Bernini.

On the occasion of the Pope’s move to Castel Gandolfo for a period of rest, the Director of the Pontifical Villas gave an interview, published on the website www.villepontificie.va, available at the following link