Pope Leo XIV has returned to the Vatican following more than two weeks of rest and reflection at Castel Gandolfo, the papal summer residence about 15 miles from Rome. According to ACI Prensa, the Holy Father arrived back in Vatican City on July 22 around 9 p.m. local time.
The pontiff had been at the lakeside retreat from July 6 to July 22, where he took time to rest, pray, and continue writing. “The Holy Father also fulfilled several apostolic commitments” during his stay, according to ACI Prensa, including one of great diplomatic and pastoral significance.
On July 9, Pope Leo XIV held a private meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The visit took place in the context of the fourth International Meeting on the Reconstruction of Ukraine, which was held in Rome July 10–11. According to ACI Prensa, the pope and president “discussed the humanitarian situation in the country and the role of the Holy See as possible mediator in the conflict.” This marked the first time a foreign head of state has been received at Castel Gandolfo since the pontificate of Pope Benedict XVI.
That same day, Pope Leo also celebrated Mass in the gardens of the residence, using a newly approved liturgy focused on “the care of creation,” underscoring the Church’s ongoing commitment to ecological responsibility.
With his return to Rome, Pope Leo now turns his attention to the upcoming Jubilee of Youth, which begins on July 28 as part of the larger 2025 Jubilee Year of Hope. As young pilgrims from around the world prepare to gather in the Eternal City, the Holy Father’s recent time of renewal signals a spiritual readiness to shepherd the faithful through this historic celebration.
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