Castel Gandolfo is known as the 'second Vatican'—or at least, that’s the nickname it’s earned for being the summer residence of the popes. It’s a small town about 40 kilometers southeast of Rome.
But if the name doesn’t ring a bell, you might remember it from these photos. Pope Benedict XVI, shortly before his resignation took effect, left the Vatican by helicopter to move into this palace, thus beginning the Sede Vacante.
You’ve probably also seen Pope Saint John Paul II there. It was a great opportunity to escape the dreaded Roman ferragosto and the sweltering heat of the city.
But you likely haven’t heard of Pope Francis going to Castel Gandolfo for vacation. That’s because the Argentinian Pope chose to spend the summer months at his usual residence, Santa Marta, inside the Vatican.
In fact, Pope Francis only went to Castel Gandolfo a couple of times during his entire papacy and only for brief visits. All of them happened in the year he was elected. The first was just ten days after becoming Pope, when he went to meet with Pope Benedict XVI.
It’s still unknown whether Pope Leo XIV will decide to go to Castel Gandolfo this summer, but what is confirmed is that he has already visited the papal palace.
However, the main reason for the visit appears to have been to see the Borgo Laudato Si’ project—an initiative launched by Pope Francis, focusing on education in integral ecology. The area spans around 135 acres and includes around 3,000 plants and 300 different species.
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