Latest news with #PopeBenedictXVI
The Independent
5 days ago
- General
- The Independent
Pope Leo's visit to summer palace prompts speculation over future plans
Pope Leo XIV has visited the papal summer palace south of Rome, prompting speculation about whether he intends to use it as a retreat from the heat or maintain it as a museum and environmental centre, following in Pope Francis ' example. Leo toured Borgo Laudato Si, an educational sustainability project inspired by Francis' 2015 environmental encyclical "Praised Be", according to the Vatican. The centre is situated in the gardens of the Vatican 's Castel Gandolfo property, located on Lake Alban in the hills south of Rome. Pope Urban VIII originally constructed the palace in 1624 as a refuge for popes from the intense Roman summers. Subsequent pontificates expanded it to its current size of 55 hectares (136 acres), surpassing even Vatican City in area. Popes past used it regularly in summer, and Pope Benedict XVI famously closed out his papacy there on 28 February, 2013. But Francis, a homebody who never took a proper vacation during his 12-year pontificate, decided to remain in Rome during summer. In 2014 he decided to open Castel Gandolfo's gardens to the public, and later turned part of the palazzo itself into a museum, in part to help offset the economic downturn the town experienced with no popes holding weekly Sunday prayers there in summer. Leo, a former missionary priest who spent the bulk of his priesthood in Peru, has not said where he will live full-time in Rome, much less whether he will use the palace as a summer getaway. Pope Leo declared himself a Roman on Sunday as he completed the final ceremonial steps cementing his role as the bishop of Rome. The first American pope was formally taking possession of two papal basilicas in the Eternal City, a formality that serves to ceremonially introduce Leo to his Roman flock. One of the many titles that Leo assumed when he was elected on 8 May was bishop of Rome. Given his responsibilities running the 1.4-billion strong universal Catholic Church, popes delegate the day-to-day governance of running of the diocese of Roman to a vicar.
Arab News
6 days ago
- General
- Arab News
Pope Leo XIV visits Vatican's hilltop summer residence that Francis turned into museum
The center is located in the gardens of the Vatican's Castel Gandolfo property on Lake AlbanPope Urban VIII built the palace on the northern end of town in 1624ROME: Pope Leo XIV visited the papal summer palace south of Rome on Thursday as questions swirled whether he will use it himself to escape the heat or follow in Pope Francis' footsteps and keep the hilltop estate as a museum and environmental paid a visit to the Borgo Laudato Si, an educational sustainability project that grew out of Francis' 2015 environmental encyclical 'Praised Be,' the Vatican said. The center is located in the gardens of the Vatican's Castel Gandolfo property on Lake Alban in the hills south of Urban VIII built the palace on the northern end of town in 1624, to give popes an escape from the sweltering Roman summers. It was enlarged over succeeding pontificates to its present size of 55 hectares (136 acres), which is actually bigger than Vatican City past used it regularly in summer, and Pope Benedict XVI famously closed out his papacy in the estate on Feb. 28, 2013. But Francis, a homebody who never took a proper vacation during his 12-year pontificate, decided to remain in Rome in 2014 he decided to open Castel Gandolfo's gardens to the public, and later turned part of the palazzo itself into a museum, in part to help offset the economic downturn the town experienced with no popes holding weekly Sunday prayers there in a former missionary priest who spent the bulk of his priesthood in Peru, hasn't said where he will live full-time in Rome, much less whether he will use the palace as a summer sustainability project, which is open to the public, has taken over operations of the working farm in the gardens of the estate, which includes 20 hectares (50 acres) of agricultural and farming land, greenhouses and service buildings. The farm, which provides dairy and fresh produce to the Vatican, aims to create a 'circular economy' in keeping with the call of Francis' encyclical to better care for God's creation.
The Independent
6 days ago
- General
- The Independent
Pope Leo XIV visits a hilltop summer residence that Francis turned into museum
Pope Leo XIV visited the papal summer palace south of Rome on Thursday as questions swirled whether he will use it himself to escape the heat or follow in Pope Francis' footsteps and keep the hilltop estate as a museum and environmental center. Leo paid a visit to the Borgo Laudato Si, an educational sustainability project that grew out of Francis' 2015 environmental encyclical 'Praised Be,' the Vatican said. The center is located in the gardens of the Vatican's Castel Gandolfo property on Lake Alban in the hills south of Rome. Pope Urban VIII built the palace on the northern end of town in 1624, to give popes an escape from the sweltering Roman summers. It was enlarged over succeeding pontificates to its present size of 55 hectares (136 acres), which is actually bigger than Vatican City itself. Popes past used it regularly in summer, and Pope Benedict XVI famously closed out his papacy there on Feb. 28, 2013. But Francis, a homebody who never took a proper vacation during his 12-year pontificate, decided to remain in Rome in summer. In 2014 he decided to open Castel Gandolfo's gardens to the public, and later turned part of the palazzo itself into a museum, in part to help offset the economic downturn the town experienced with no popes holding weekly Sunday prayers there in summer. Leo, a former missionary priest who spent the bulk of his priesthood in Peru, hasn't said where he will live full-time in Rome, much less whether he will use the palace as a summer getaway. ___ Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP's collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.
Bloomberg
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Bloomberg
Pope Leo XIV Prays for Chinese Catholics in First Comments on Thorny Issue
ROME (AP) — Pope Leo XIV asked Sunday for prayers for China's Catholics to be in communion with the Holy See, as he made his first public remarks about one of the thorniest foreign policy issues facing his new pontificate. History's first American pope recalled that on Saturday the Catholic Church marked a special feast day to pray for the church in China. Pope Benedict XVI had initiated the feast day as part of his efforts to unify China's estimated 12 million Catholics who were divided between an official, state-controlled church that didn't recognize papal authority, and an underground church that remained loyal to Rome through decades of persecution.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Pope prays for Chinese Catholics, hinting at how he will approach one of the Church's thorniest issues
Pope Leo XIV asked Sunday for prayers for China's Catholics to be in communion with the Holy See, as he made his first public remarks about one of the thorniest foreign policy issues facing his new pontificate. History's first American pope recalled that on Saturday the Catholic Church marked a special feast day to pray for the church in China. Pope Benedict XVI had initiated the feast day as part of his efforts to unify China's estimated 12 million Catholics who were divided between an official, state-controlled church that didn't recognize papal authority, and an underground church that remained loyal to Rome through decades of persecution. Leo noted that on the feast day 'in the churches and shrines in China and throughout the world, prayers have been raised to God as a sign of the solicitude and affection for Chinese Catholics and their communion with the universal church.' Speaking from his studio window during his noontime blessing, Leo prayed that Catholics in China and elsewhere 'obtain the grace to be strong and joyful witnesses of the Gospel, even in the midst of trials, to always promote peace and harmony.' Pope Francis took Benedict's unifying efforts further by approving a controversial deal in 2018 over bishop nominations. The details of the deal were never released, but it affords the state-controlled church a say in its church leaders, though Francis insisted he retained veto power over the ultimate choice. The deal has been criticized by some, especially on the Catholic right, for having caved to Beijing's demands and sold out the underground faithful in China. The Vatican has said it was the best deal it could get and it has been renewed periodically since then. Leo will have to decide whether to continue renewing the accord. There have been some apparent violations on the Beijing side with some unilateral appointments that occurred without papal consent. The issue came to a head just before the conclave that elected Leo pope, when the Chinese church proceeded with the preliminary election of two bishops, a step that comes before official consecration. Leo told the archbishop of Hong Kong, Cardinal Stephen Chow, that he had 'visited China several times and got to know the Chinese culture and reality,' according to the Fides missionary news agency, citing comments Chow made in his diocesan weekly newsletter after the conclave. Chow added that he expected Leo would follow Francis' direction for the church in China. He said he had given Leo a small statue of Our Lady of Sheshan, a statue of the Madonna that is particularly venerated by Chinese faithful and is celebrated on the feast day, May 24. Chow, a Jesuit, said he had implored Leo 'to not forget the church in China and the Chinese people,' according to the newsletter. 'He nodded his head to indicate that he will not forget,' according to Fides. The Vatican has been working for years to try to improve relations with China that were officially severed over seven decades ago when the Communists came to power. Relations had long been stymied over China's insistence on its exclusive right to name bishops as a matter of national sovereignty, while the Vatican insisted on the pope's exclusive right to name the successors of the original Apostles. The 2018 deal was aimed at uniting the flock, regularizing the status of seven bishops who weren't recognized by Rome and thawing decades of estrangement between China and the Vatican.
