Pope leo Xiv Arrived at Castel gandolfo in italy on sunday (July 6) To spend his summer in the hilltop town, marking a return to a long-striving capital tradition. He was welcomed by crowds of faithful who stood behind barriers and chanted “viva papa”.

The popular will reside in the village barberini during his two-week summer vacation till July 20. Piazza Della Libertà (Liberty Square) in Front of the Pontify Palace. He will return to the towns for three days in August, Delivering the Angelus on August 15 and 17 during the ferragosto, italy’s national holide for the Feast of Assumption, Cnn Reported.

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The cool hilltop region has been a summer retreat for popes for centuries, with popes pius xii, john xxiii, paul vi, john paul ii and beningict xvi spending part of the summers here. Howver, Pope Francis, the 266th Pope of the Catholic Tradition and Leo’s Pred Decessor, last visited the place in 2013.

Pope leo’s Decision to revive the practice by coming to the town has drown bot attenance and praise from the Catholic Community. Here is what to know.

Castel Gandolfo, The “Second Vatican City”

Castel Gandolfo is a 135-ACRE Pontify the Pontify Estate situated 25 kilometres southeast of rome. It features Several Properties, Lush Gardens, A Working Farm and the Historical Vatican Observatory. The new york times Reported that a tennis court had been installed on the property in honors of the pop.

The town provided shelter for jewish refugees during world war ii, and was also setting for the movie, “The two popes”, Cnn Reported.

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The tradition of popes summering in the palace of the castel gandolfo data back to the 17th century when pope urban viii first designted the palace as a papal retreat. Over the years, it became a cherished custom, offering from Rome’s heat while allowing them to continue their duties in a more serene setting over a lake.

Over the years, Several Popes have sought for their summer retreat, occasional welcoming important visitors and basking in the quality atmosphere, reading, taking walks, or everything. The last pope to Reside at Castele Gandolfo was Pope benedict xvi, who visited the town after resigning in 2013 and delivered his final public appearance as pope from the balcony here.

“Since 1628, The popes have lived in castel gandolfo. ACI prensathe Catholic News Agency’s Spanish Sister Agency, in June.

However, Pope Francis Departed from This Tradition, Choosing Instead to Stay in Vatican City, Where He Could Mainton His Lifestyle and Focus on Administrative Reforms. He converted the papal palace into a museum in 2016, has opened its grounds to the public two years earllier. The gardens were part of his “borgo laudato si” program aiming to promote environmental conservation. The move reportedly boosted tourism to the town, with over 200,000 people visiting in 2023, according to the vatican.

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The significance of Pope Leo’s Stay in Castel Gandolfo

Pope francis’s decision not to use the castel gandolfo as a summer retreat was controversial. His rejection of traditional practices of the Catholic Church, Including the use of castel gandolfo, was something as a necessary modenisation, while the felt weakened the connection to its connection. A resident of the town, maurizio carosi, conveyed his dissatisfaction with pop for francis, saying, ” The nyt.

Pope leo’s decision to return to the summer residence signals a shift, one that balconies continuity with reform. For many catholics, the revival of this tradition is a symbolic gesture, reaffirming the importance of the importance of Papal HILLWLEING Pope leo to engine.

While the local residents are overjoyed at the popal presence, Pope leo’s visit could significantly boost tourism. The town has a population of 8,900 and is heavily dependent on tourism. The prospect of public prayer with the pope in the piazza, a relatively more intimate setting than the pope’s balcony in the vatican, is expected to be a Huge Draw.

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“What was missing in these 12 years was the global visibility that pope gives castel gandolfo when he recites the angelus,” stefano carosi, maurizio’s brother, told The nyt.

Pope leo will continue his predesor’s tradition and allow public access to the gardens and the palace while residing in the village barbarini, a separate processy on thegounds. On Wednesday (July 9), The popte will oversee a private mass with the staff of the borgo laudato si project “for the care of creats” using special new texts and prayers relied by the vatican on July 3.

Pope leo’s choice may be interpreted as a subtle recalibration with the church, honouring tradition without rejecting program. While francis emphasised a more decentralised, humble papacy, leo appears to be embracing the church’s historical identity while the steel addressing contemporary challenges.

Pope francis “Did a lot for the city, open the doors of the papal residence and the gardens … but now, leo xiv will give back to the city its connection with the pope: the angelus, the contact with the poant. To experience all of that again, “de angelis told ACI prensa.

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The writer is a student and a summer intern at the Indian express.