How Leo is resuming a papal tradition this summer
Pope Leo XIV will resume the papal tradition of taking a summer break outside Rome, as announced by the Vatican on Tuesday.
Leo will stay at the papal retreat of Castel Gandolfo, south of Rome, from 6-20 July for rest and again in August for the Assumption feast day.
Pope Urban VIII built the palace in 1624 to provide popes an escape from the Roman summer. Its grounds span 55 hectares, larger than Vatican City.
Pope Francis, who died just after Easter, never took summer vacations during his 12-year papacy, but his predecessors John Paul II and Benedict XVI frequented Castel Gandolfo.
Leo will deliver the traditional Angelus blessing to the faithful at Castel Gandolfo on 13 and 20 July and 15 and 17 August, with public audiences at the Vatican suspended for most of July, resuming on 30 July.
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The Independent
7 hours ago
- The Independent
How Leo is resuming a papal tradition this summer
Pope Leo XIV will resume the papal tradition of taking a summer break outside Rome, as announced by the Vatican on Tuesday. Leo will stay at the papal retreat of Castel Gandolfo, south of Rome, from 6-20 July for rest and again in August for the Assumption feast day. Pope Urban VIII built the palace in 1624 to provide popes an escape from the Roman summer. Its grounds span 55 hectares, larger than Vatican City. Pope Francis, who died just after Easter, never took summer vacations during his 12-year papacy, but his predecessors John Paul II and Benedict XVI frequented Castel Gandolfo. Leo will deliver the traditional Angelus blessing to the faithful at Castel Gandolfo on 13 and 20 July and 15 and 17 August, with public audiences at the Vatican suspended for most of July, resuming on 30 July.
The Independent
10 hours ago
- The Independent
Pope Leo escapes Rome's summer heat to the nearby Castel Gandolfo
Pope Leo XIV will resume the papal tradition of taking a summer break outside Rome, the Vatican announced on Tuesday. Leo will transfer to the papal retreat of Castel Gandolfo, south of Rome, from July 6-20 'for a period of rest' and again for a few days over the Catholic Assumption feast day in August, the Vatican said. Leo visited the papal summer palace last month, raising speculation that he would resume a tradition that goes back centuries. Pope Urban VIII built the palace in 1624 to give popes an escape from the sweltering Roman summer. It was enlarged over succeeding pontificates to its present size of 55 hectares (136 acres), bigger than Vatican City itself. Pope Francis, who died just after Easter, was known as a workaholic homebody who never took a proper vacation during his 12-year papacy, staying at the Vatican even during the hot summer months. Both of Francis' immediate predecessors, John Paul II and Benedict XVI, spent time at Castel Gandolfo, interspersed with visits to the northern Italian Alps. Benedict was especially fond of Castel Gandolfo, closing his papacy out there in 2013. Francis opened the palazzo's gardens to the public in 2014 and later turned part of it into a museum. In what will be a boon to the local community, Leo is resuming the traditional Angelus blessing to the faithful gathered in front of Castel Gandolfo on July 13 and July 20, and again on Aug. 15 and Aug. 17, when he returns for a short stay over Italy's most important summer holiday. Public and private audiences at the Vatican will be suspended for most of July, resuming on July 30.
Times
11 hours ago
- Times
Best designer beach bags for summer 2025
Since the 1930s, beach bags — totes made of straw, raffia or canvas — have been one of the most stylish summer accessories. What was once simply a practical piece used for carrying towels, picnics and souvenirs, is now a status symbol of the seaside thanks to luxury houses such as Loewe, Gucci and Brunello Cucinelli putting their designer stamps on the summery staple. Keep scrolling to see the best designer beach bags to shop this season. • This article contains affiliate links that can earn us revenue Made in Italy, this Ferragamo tote is defined by its leather trim, supple handle and circular cut-out details. The bucket shape allows you to throw in all your summer essentials — but the mini silhouette prevents you over-packing. £925, Ferragamo at Net-a-Porter Founded in 1985 by the Belgium designer Craig Wright, Dragon Diffusion uses a special hand braiding technique inspired by traditional basket weaving cultures such as Japanese bamboo basketry and fibre baskets crafted from natural plants by South Pacific communities. The process involves braiding crust leather straps before using natural vegetable dyes to create distinctive, wearable shades like this cream and mint iteration. £410, Dragon Diffusion at Net-a-Porter Since the former creative director JW Anderson first adorned a raffia basket bag with Loewe's iconic anagram in 2019, the luxury house has become a go-to for beachy totes. For more playful versions, Loewe's collaboration with Paula's Ibiza features bolder styles and colours while still showcasing the brand's moniker. £1,000, Loewe + Paula's Ibiza at Net-a-Porter Crafted from striped raffia, Brunello Cucinelli's medium beach bag features a sculptural, pleated shape, optional leather shoulder strap and a secure slot for your cards inside. £1,850, Brunello Cucinelli at Net-a-Porter While mini bags are ideal for city breaks in summer, Zimmermann's capacious raffia-jacquard tote is the better option for long days spent by the sea. The leather handles and gold-tone hardware keep the bohemian brand's beach bag feeling elevated. £775, Zimmermann at Net-a-Porter A wearable work of art that arguably should be reserved for swanky seaside restaurants rather than sandy beaches, Bottega Veneta's Sardine tote, named for its sculptural, fish-like handle, is crafted from woven traffic and features a removable leather wallet to keep your items safe. £6,720, Bottega Veneta at Net-a-Porter While most beach bags feature woven raffia or straw, Missoni's vibrant tote is crafted from quick-drying terry-jacquard and reinforced with a canvas trim and showcases a re-imagining of the brand's signature chevron stripes. £495, Missoni at Net-a-Porter Unsurprisingly the quiet luxury brand The Row, forgoes bright beachy stripes for a pared-back silhouette. Free from any embellishment, the Emilie bag simply lets the natural fibres of woven raffia shine. £860, The Row at Mytheresa Founded by Simon Porte Jacquemus and inspired by his personal experience of the south of France's rich art, tourism and fashion history, you can always rely on Jacquemus for summery essentials with a sartorial twist. This beach bag is defined by its playful asymmetric silhouette and curved gold-tone clasp. £1,090, Jacquemus at Mytheresa A sweet take on the traditional picnic basket, Aquazzura's Marea beach bag features a striped canvas drawstring interior and is decorated with playful rattan embellishments inspired by the sea — from coral to clownfish and crabs. £1,185, Aquazzura at Mytheresa Crafted from natural seagrass woven to create a dinky basket-shaped silhouette, Anya Hindmarch's new beach bag features the brand's signature eyes that are also intricately woven from paper. £425, Anya Hindmarch Available in a collection of summery stripes and shades, Gucci's unisex beach bag is crafted from herringbone cotton canvas, playful fringe detailing and the brand's script embroidery across the front.£1,650, Gucci Prada's logo-embroidered crochet beach bags have become somewhat of a seaside status symbol in summer. Crafted from woven yarn, this tote is pretty sturdy, with plenty of room for towels, swimwear and more. £1,660, Prada at Selfridges While Anya Hindmarch's basket bag is very cute, for those who struggle to streamline their beach bag contents, this leather-strapped tote is a touch more roomy. £595, Anya Hindmarch
