Why there was no general audience of Pope Leo XIV

Pope Leo XIV did not preside over Wednesday the traditional general audience in the Vatican, thus marking the beginning of the usual summer break.

The press office of the Holy See confirmed that, during the month of July, the weekly meetings with the faithful are temporarily interrupted. Therefore, general audiences will not be held on July 2, 9, 16 and 23.

In addition, as usual, the Pontiff will not have private audiences in this period although, this Tuesday, it maintains an intense agenda.

Today it is expected to receive the wife of the president of Türkiye, Emine Erdoğan; to the Prime Minister of Italy, Giorgia Meloni; Already a group of bishops of the Greco-Catholic Church, among other private audiences.

One of the most prominent gestures of this period will be the return of Leo XIV to Castel Gandolfo on the afternoon of Sunday, July 6.

This papal residence, located in the Albanian mountains, about 25 kilometers from Rome, was traditionally used as a resting place for several of its predecessors.

It will be the first time in more than ten years that a Pope inhabited it again, since Pope Francis chose to remain in the Vatican during the summer.

On Sunday, July 13, the Pope will celebrate Holy Mass in the morning in the Pontifical Parish of San Tomás de Villanueva, and at noon he will preside over the prayer of the Angelus in the Piazza della Libertà.

The following Sunday, July 20, the Eucharist will celebrate in the Albanian Cathedral and again direct the Angelus from the historic Plaza de Castel Gandolfo.

The prefecture of the Pontifical House reported that on the same day, in the afternoon, the Holy Father will return to the Vatican and that the general audiences will resume on Wednesday, July 30.