Pope Leo XIV Vacations Like a Time-Traveling Noble, With Mass on the Side
KEY POINTS
- •Pope Leo XIV arrived at Villa Barberini in Castel Gandolfo on July 5, 2025, for a three-week stay.
- •The papal estate spans 135 acres, featuring gardens, an observatory, a tennis court, and historical residences.
- •During his vacation, Leo XIV held mass in the gardens, opened the estate for diplomacy with Ukraine's president, and continued papal duties.
In July 2025, Pope Leo XIV finally embraced summer like a 17th-century aristocrat, retreating to Villa Barberini, the papal summer estate in Castel Gandolfo—16 miles from Rome but light years from modern hotel vibes. The 135-acre Holy See-owned estate is so sprawling it includes gardens (55 hectares thanks to Bergoglio—yes, the last pope before Leo created Borgo Laudato Si), tennis courts, an observatory, and even a library housing Pope Benedict XVI's theological encyclopedias. Rather than Netflix and chill, Leo XIV led a mass for the Care of Creation calling the gardens a 'natural cathedral.' Bonus plot twist: he hosted Ukrainian president Zelenskyy there for a high-level war talks pitch, proving the Pope multitasks rest and diplomacy better than most vacationers juggle sunscreen and snacks.
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(1 of 3)Nothing screams 'summer vacation' like leading a mash-up of Mass, ecological education, and secret war meetings on a 135-acre estate, complete with a tennis court and encyclopedias. Pope Leo XIV’s holiday multitasking makes your beach week look like amateur hour.
Pope Leo XIV's vacation home: tennis, theology, and war talks. Meanwhile, I can’t even find my car keys on weekends.
Who needs a beach towel when you have a 17th-century Villa, 55 hectares of gardens, and the Pope swinging a tennis racket? Priorities, people.
Source: Businessinsider | Published: 7/25/2026 | Author: Talia Lakritz
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