However, since Castel Gandolfo was no longer the center of Catholic events in the summer, hardly any visitors made their way there. Hoteliers, innkeepers and souvenir dealers are now hoping for better business again. However, it is not really progressing: in the palace you nowhere notice that there is a new pontiff. Francis is still alive on the pedigree. And the souvenir dealers complain that there are still no postcards with Leo.
According to a report by the “Corriere della Sera”, the new Pope has already had a tennis court created: the 69-year-old is still playing. In addition to the swimming pool, there is also a Boccia square. Of course, Leo will not live in the museum, but in Villa Barberini, an outbuilding in the city center. Before the departure, on Sunday prayer in front of ten thousands on St. Peter’s Square, he also wished everyone else “a good vacation time to relax body and mind”.
Obviously, Leo actually wants to take it easy for the next few weeks. He had all audience canceled. The new head of 1.4 billion Catholics had primarily taken care of internal things in his many appointments: in the curia, the church’s power apparatus, there was some resentment about Francis. In addition, there was a lot during his illness. So far, Leo has given up when traveling abroad. He also gave a single, meaningless interview.
Leo also has some appointments during the holidays. So he wants to speak the everyday Angelus prayer in Castel Gandolfo next week. On July 20, we will go back to Rome for a while. The Mariä skyfit weekend on August 15th, highlight of the holiday season in Italy, he spends again in the summer residence.
A decision is still pending: whether the Apostolic Palace in Castel Gandolfo remains open to visits. The director of the papal villas, Andrea Tamburelli, says: “The decision about his future lies with the Pope.” Many in the town expect Leo to use the palace as accommodation from next summer, like most predecessors. The Bavarian flag on the desk would then come away.
