Pope visits papal villa, former summer residence in Castel Gandolfo

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Leo XIV spent several hours May 29 visiting the Borgo Laudato Si’ ecology project set up at the papal villa and farm in Castel Gandolfo, as well as the former papal summer residence there.

Pope Francis established the project in early 2023, saying he wanted “to make a tangible contribution to the development of ecological education by opening a new space for training and raising awareness,” according to the Vatican City governor’s office.

The project offers tours of the formal gardens to tourists and school groups but also is set up to train gardeners and maintenance workers.

Pope Francis also turned the papal palace on the town’s main square into a museum, which opened in 2016. Many of the townspeople hope the new pope will once again spend at least part of the summer in the villa but there has been no word about that.

As news spread that the pope was in the hilltop town, visitors to the property May 29 began gathering in the square outside the papal palace, hoping to get a glimpse of the new pope. One Italian woman even tried to get others to join her in shouting encouragement for the pope to come to the window. But they left disappointed.

The Vatican press office confirmed the pope’s visit but provided no details.

The papal property at Castel Gandolfo extends over 135 acres — surpassing the 108.7 acres of Vatican City. It includes 74 acres of gardens — 17 of which are formal gardens — 62 acres of farmland, three residences and a farm with chickens, hens, rabbits, assorted fowl, cows and a small dairy operation. There are also fruit and olive orchards, vineyards, hayfields, vegetable patches, aromatic herbs, flowerbeds and plants that often are used to decorate the papal apartments and meeting rooms at the Vatican.

Meeting in September with people involved in the center, Pope Francis noted that they were developing a new vineyard for wine production. “It is intended to act as a synthesis of tradition and innovation, as a ‘trademark’ of the Borgo,” he said.

In November, Pope Francis appointed Father Manuel Dorantes, a priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago to be administrative management director of the Laudato Si’ Center for Higher Education, which is part of the project.

Father Dorantes did not respond to requests for comment about Pope Leo’s visit.

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