Papal summer residence to be unused in 2014?

July 09, 2014

Neither Pope Francis nor Pope-emeritus Benedict XVI plans any extended stay at Castel Gandolfo this year, the National Catholic Register reports, although either may take a short break at the summer papal residence.

Quoting Archbishop Georg Gänswein, the prefect of the political household, the Italian daily Corriere della Sera reports that at a recent meeting, Benedict XVI asked Pope Francis whether he planned a summer stay at Castel Gandolfo. When the Pope said that he did not, his predecessor replied: "OK, then I also won't do it."

Pope Francis has made it his practice never to take vacations. But during his pontificate, Benedict XVI enjoyed his summer stays at Castel Gandolfo, and after his resignation he spent three months in the summer residence before returning to Rome to stay in the Mater Ecclesiae monastery.

 

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Further information:

• Benedict XVI and Francis Both Decline Castel Gandolfo (National Catholic Register)