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CNN
07-07-2025
- CNN
The hilltop town where Pope Leo XIV is staying cool on his summer vacation
After the whirlwind of his election and a nonstop round of public and private meetings ever since, Pope Leo XIV has chosen to take some time to rest and recharge. Choosing where to take his vacation was a simple decision. For centuries popes have spent their summers in the papal palace and gardens of Castel Gandolfo, a town nestled in the hills above Lake Albano. The small town, approximately 15 miles southeast of Rome, is 1,400 feet above sea level and provides an escape from the sweltering summer heat of the Eternal City. This is where the first American pope is going to spend two weeks this month, having arrived on Sunday, before returning for several days over the Feast of the Assumption on August 15, which is Italy's national holiday of Ferragosto. During the Second World War, the papal summer residence provided refuge for Jewish refugees and more recently was the setting for 'The Two Popes,' the Netflix movie that explores the differing visions for the church's future of Benedict XVI and his successor Francis. It's a peaceful oasis that offers majestic views over the deep blue lake with those visiting the area overlooking Albano sometimes calling it an anticamera del paradiso — an antechamber of paradise. By going to Castel Gandolfo, Leo is reviving a tradition of popes leaving the Vatican to take a summer break, which had been suspended by Francis. Leo's predecessor never took a vacation outside of the Vatican and instead opted for a staycation in his Casa Santa Marta residence. Francis turned Castel Gandolfo into a museum and opened its gardens to the public. Visitors to the palace start their tour with a courtyard display of old popemobiles and other vehicles used by the popes, while inside they can peek at the papal bedroom, study and chapel. The last pontiff to use the palace was Benedict XVI who came to Castel Gandolfo after his 2013 resignation, making his final public appearance as pope from the balcony. While Leo is reviving a tradition, he is not turning the clock back. He won't be staying in the palace (acquired in 1596 and featuring its own Renaissance-style gardens) but at the Villa Barberini, which has a terrace that overlooks Lake Albano. It is located in gardens created around the ruins of former Roman Emperor Domitian's first-century villa. While the Vatican has said Leo's time in Castel Gandolfo is an opportunity to rest, he could make use of a swimming pool installed by Pope John Paul II or, as a keen tennis player, go to the Tennis Club of Castel Gandolfo nearby. The town's 8,900 residents rely heavily on tourism so having the pope come and stay is seen as helping the local economy by attracting visitors. During Francis' papacy, some residents felt bereft without the pope and said they missed out on the economic and social benefits of the papal presence. On July 13 and 20, Leo XIV will celebrate Mass in a cathedral and a church nearby, and then lead the Sunday Angelus prayer from the town's central piazza. He'll do the same on August 15. The moments of public prayer in the more intimate setting of the piazza offer an opportunity for people to have a closer encounter with the pope than when he leads the Angelus from the balcony of the Vatican's apostolic palace. The mayor of Castel Gandolfo, Alberto de Angelis, described Pope Leo's stay as an 'important sign of affection, gratitude and recognition' for the town and its residents. He told CNN the area would feel the benefit of tourism and 'all commercial activities.' The main square is surrounded by cafes and souvenir shops while the town has plenty of restaurants and a popular mosaic workshop and store, La Musa Mosaici. 'We hope that he [Leo] doesn't stay only on his property, but that he comes to visit the town, comes to find his shopkeepers, his fellow citizens, that he comes to eat with us,' the mayor said. De Angelis pointed out that Castel Gandolfo is a 'Vatican Two' — a stand in for the ecclesiastical city — which is used to welcoming people from across the world. While he prefers it when popes come on vacation, he said Francis' decision to open the papal palace and gardens brought a boost to the local economy and tourism. The Vatican's Castel Gandolfo estate includes 135 acres of both farmland and gardens, and is also home to the historical Vatican observatory, which specializes in astronomical research. Francis wanted the Vatican gardens to promote care for the environment through 'Borgo Laudato Si',' a project named after the late pope's encyclical on protecting the planet. Leo is building on this commitment. On July 9, while in Castel Gandolfo, he will celebrate a private Mass with staff at the ecology project 'for the care of creation' using special new texts and prayers released for use in the Church by the Vatican on July 3. The Vatican is not the only entity involved in ecological work in the town. Valentina Biagini, a Castel Gandolfo resident and environmental and sustainability consultant, has been involved in establishing a sustainability center by Lake Albano that includes a bistro serving plant-based cuisine. She hopes that the pope's visit doesn't lead to a large one-off influx of visitors. 'It's important that there aren't too many people all at the same time,' she told CNN. 'It would be best if in the future we would be able to have sustainable tourism as well, which means not [too] many people all together.' Three days before departing, Leo, who is already known for his methodical style, paid a visit to Castel Gandolfo to check on the Villa Barberini, where Vatican staff had been preparing for his stay in recent days. Aside from leading services, the pope is expected to spend much of his time out of public sight during his time on vacation. Along with environmental efforts and attracting tourism to the town, the pope's time away from the Vatican also sends a message to a fast-paced world of hyper-activity: everyone, even the pope, needs a break.
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Sir Jonathan Pryce: ‘Dementia is the UK's biggest killer – we need to do more to remove the prejudice'
This June sees the return of Alzheimer's Society's Forget Me Not Appeal, which funds life-changing support and groundbreaking research for the UK's biggest killer – dementia. We will be talking to people who have been affected by it – from a carer, to a widower, to a scientific researcher. Meet the first in our series, Sir Jonathan Pryce CBE, who played a character with dementia in the hit Apple TV+ show Slow Horses, and whose beloved Aunt Mair lived with dementia. Some of my best roles have come in my later years, such as playing Pope Francis in The Two Popes, or Prince Philip in The Crown. Recently, I attended the Baftas, where I was nominated for best supporting actor for my role playing former agent with dementia David Cartwright in Slow Horses. Known as 'The old b-----d' in the books the series were based on, David had a history of not being a nice man, who just happened to have dementia as part of the story. I didn't want that to define him. I know there are actors who can reel off all the research they've done to get in character, but for me it's more just trying to absorb who the person is, the way they behave and react to people. The way others react to them. When playing someone who is a bit lost and forgetful, searching for words as well as things, I found myself actually 'going in on myself', withdrawing into my own world as someone with dementia does. Sometimes, truthfully, I found myself going in too deep with that. I had to be careful, it could be quite punishing. Paranoia is a common symptom of the disease but, as a former MI6 agent, Cartwright thinking people were following him and trying to kill him wasn't just paranoia. There were many secrets locked in his brain. Slow Horses wasn't the first time I'd played a character with dementia. I was in a play before that, The Height of the Storm, and one of the most moving experiences was being greeted by a man in his 50s at the stage door after the show. He told me he'd recently lost his father, after giving up his job to care for him through Alzheimer's. All that time he'd managed alone as the carer, never getting emotional. He told me that watching the play was the first time he'd allowed himself to cry about it. That's deeply humbling as an actor. While I didn't base my portrayal in Slow Horses on anyone in particular, I too have lived through a loved one losing their memory. My beloved Aunt Mair was in her 90s when she went into a care home in North Wales. Mair said to me: 'I don't care if I die'. And I replied, 'I don't mind you dying, but I don't want you dying in pain after falling down the stairs.' She only really had dementia at the end. One of the last times I saw her she didn't recognise me. I said, 'it's Jon'. And she replied: 'Oh, I have a nephew called Jon, he's a famous actor.' While I found her forgetting me upsetting, when I relayed this to my son, he said, 'no Dad, she remembers you – she just doesn't recognise you.' I found that notion comforting. Dementia can be hugely isolating, which is why Alzheimer's Society is so invaluable, showing people they're not alone. I fell into being a charity ambassador really, after I was asked to take part in a service at St Paul's Cathedral several years ago. Doing a reading at St Paul's had always been on my bucket list – so I had to say yes. Watching Alzheimer's Society's Singing for the Brain Choir moved me to tears, and afterwards I agreed to help the charity any way I could. Around a million people in the UK are living with dementia today – it's the UK's biggest killer and, with our ageing population, its prevalence is rising. The charity does great work in trying to remove some of the prejudices around the condition (which is caused by diseases of the brain), but really I wish the Government would provide more funding for the NHS to do this work, instead of letting the charity fill in the gaps. At the age of 78, I can honestly say that there's nothing at all about getting older that frightens me. When I was a younger man, I was afraid of ageing, mostly because I'd lived through my father getting ill and having a terrible old age himself. But now I realise there's nothing to fear – getting old is inevitable. Neither do I ever consider which is worse, losing one's mental faculties or one's physical abilities. I hope I don't have to make that choice. I am the age I am, and I'm embracing it. Keeping working has been key for me. When I was a young actor, I'd stupidly say that I planned to retire at 60. I'd seen older actors being patronised on film sets (don't ask me who, I'll say I can't remember). I'd grown up watching these big stars on television be reduced to smaller and smaller roles. I didn't want to be that guy. I'd want to go and speak to one of the directors and say, 'you do realise who this person is? They need to be treated with respect'. But I've kept working and, as far as I know, I haven't seen anyone being taken into a corner saying, 'you do realise this is Jonathan Pryce – he used to be famous!' Of course, I'm nearly always the oldest person on any set now, and happily there are younger people in the industry who appreciate people like me bringing decades of life experience with them. While I don't fear old age, or what might come next, I do everything I can to stay well – physically and mentally. Every morning, I do all the puzzles in The New York Times, competing online with a friend to keep us both on our toes. I do word searches, crosswords and Wordle, always proudly texting him if I can get it in two. When I was a young man, I could memorise a page of dialogue after just a few readings. I still can, more or less. I've had to get more organised over the years, though; if I haven't put something in my diary, it won't happen. I'm less impulsive than I was, and I like to get everywhere early. As a family [Jonathan has three adult children with his wife Kate Fahy], we've always eaten well. We generally eat a Mediterranean diet. I eat meat and everything else – moderation is the secret. Same with alcohol. I do enjoy a nice red wine with dinner. I exercise too. There was a wonderful period when I had a set schedule filming The Crown and I saw a personal trainer twice a week. These days, I try to walk everywhere I can, and if I'm outside of London, I cycle. Admittedly, it's on an electronically assisted bike these days, but that still helps from my eldest son, who's in New York, I'm lucky enough to live close to my family in London, and I find my children inspirational, and my wife of course. My main ambition now is to keep working. I may not be in line to play the next James Bond, but there are still interesting parts coming my way. My cab driver this morning told me he was 66 and couldn't wait to retire. I said, 'don't do that! I've seen friends retire early, and it doesn't turn out well. Don't stop!' As an actor, I'm lucky I don't need to retire, although it could retire me of course. All l really want is to be creative, enjoy life and campaign for the causes I care about. As told to Susanna Galton Sir Jonathan is an Ambassador for Alzheimer's Society and is supporting the charity's appeal. Donate at Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Denzel Washington, Robert Pattinson & Daisy Edgar-Jones Set For Netflix Heist Pic ‘Here Comes The Flood' From Fernando Meirelles
Denzel Washington, Robert Pattinson, and Daisy Edgar-Jones are set to star in Here Comes the Flood, a new Netflix heist film from Fernando Meirelles, the Oscar-nominated filmmaker behind the streamer's lauded drama The Two Popes. The news emerged from Netflix's Upfront presentation on Wednesday. More from Deadline 'Star Search' Reboot Underway At Netflix Deion Sanders Stars In Another Docuseries, This Time For Netflix Dan Levy Comedy Series Ordered By Netflix After Long, Twisty Journey To Screen; Taylor Ortega & Laurie Metcalf Also Star Written by Simon Kinberg (Mr. & Mrs. Smith), the film is described as an unconventional heist flick about a bank guard, a teller, and a master thief in a deadly game of cons and double crosses. Kinberg and Audrey Chon will produce for Genre Films, alongside Meirelles, with Samson Mucke exec producing. RELATED: Coming off of lauded turns in Gladiator II and The Tragedy of Macbeth, Washington will next be seen leading Spike Lee's crime thriller Highest 2 Lowest, based on Akira Kurosawa's classic High and Low, which A24 releases in August, ahead of the film's Apple TV+ streaming date of September 5. Pattinson will next be seen starring alongside Jennifer Lawrence in Lynne Ramsay's Die, My Love, which is premiering at Cannes. Currently, he's in production on Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey, and he also has Kristoffer Borgli's The Drama, in which he stars opposite Zendaya, coming up. Since breaking out with Hulu's acclaimed Irish drama Normal People, Edgar-Jones has bolstered her star status with projects like Under the Banner of Heaven and Where the Crawdads Sing, most recently starring in Twisters opposite Glen Powell and romantic drama On Swift Horses. Next, she'll be seen starring opposite Michelle Williams in A Place in Hell from Fair Play filmmaker Chloe Domont. Meirelles' last film The Two Popes, starring Jonathan Pryce and Anthony Hopkins, garnered Oscar noms for both actors' performances, as well as Best Adapted Screenplay, in 2020. Also known for titles like City of God and The Constant Gardener, his recent TV work includes Sugar and The Sympathizer. Writer-producer Kinberg exec produced Apple's Sugar and has also recently worked on Apple's series Invasion, along with films like The 355 and Deadpool & Wolverine. Washington is repped by WME; Pattinson by 3 Arts, WME, Curtis Brown Group, and Sloane, Offer, Weber & Dern; Edgar-Jones by Hamilton Hodell, UTA, and Sloane, Offer, Weber & Dern; Meirelles by LBI Entertainment, O2 Filmes, and Goodman, Genow, Schenkman; and Kinberg by CAA and Jackoway Austen Tyerman. Best of Deadline 2025-26 Awards Season Calendar: Dates For Tonys, Emmys, Oscars & More Men of Steel: Every Actor Who Has Played Superman - Photo Gallery 'Michael' Cast: Who's Who In The Michael Jackson Biopic
Geek Tyrant
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Tyrant
Denzel Washington, Robert Pattinson, and Daisy Edgar-Jones Team Up for Netflix Heist Thriller HERE COMES THE FLOOD — GeekTyrant
Netflix is bringing some serious star power to its latest heist film project Here Comes the Flood , with Denzel Washington, Robert Pattinson, and Daisy Edgar-Jones leading the charge. The film is described as 'an unconventional heist flick about a bank guard, a teller, and a master thief in a deadly game of cons and double crosses.' That logline promises a story with plenty of twists and turns. The project, which was officially unveiled during Netflix's Upfront presentation, comes from Oscar-nominated filmmaker Fernando Meirelles ( City of God , The Two Popes ). The script comes from Mr. & Mrs. Smith and X-Men: Days of Future Past writer Simon Kinberg, who's also producing the film alongside Audrey Chon. Washington is fresh off Gladiator II and is set to reunite with Spike Lee for Highest 2 Lowest , a crime thriller based on Akira Kurosawa's High and Low, arriving this August via A24. Pattinson is starring opposite Jennifer Lawrence in Lynne Ramsay's Die, My Love , which premieres at Cannes. He's also in production on Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey and has The Drama , a new film where he stars opposite Zendaya. Edgar-Jones most recently starred in Twisters , and next up, she'll be starring alongside Michelle Williams in A Place in Hell , directed by Fair Play filmmaker Chloe Domont. There's no release date yet. Source: Deadline
The Hindu
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
What Two Popes reveals about the lost dialogue in Indian academia
Robert Francis Prevost became the first pope from the United States on Thursday (May 8, 2025), picking the papal name Leo XIV after cardinals from around the world elected him as the 267th pope of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics. This was following Pope Francis' death on April 21. After decades of conservative leadership of the Roman Catholic Church that culminated in the papacy of Pope Benedict XVI, Pope Francis, the first Latin American leader of the church, had sought to promote inclusion and care for the marginalised over doctrinal purity. Against this backdrop, I watched the movie The Two Popes (2019) on OTT. Taking us behind the Vatican walls, the movie rewinds to the final days of Pope Benedict XVI, where the conservative Pope Benedict XVI and the liberal future Pope Francis must find common ground to forge a new path for the Catholic Church. Inspired by true events, the movie shows a fictitious dialogue between the two popes. Though their views are poles apart, there is space for an open dialogue. After the Vatican leaks scandal marred the Catholic Church in controversy, Jorge Mario Bergoglio (later known as Pope Francis) submitted his resignation as the Archbishop. Bergoglio, who was also in line to become Pope, had received the second-highest votes after Pope Benedict. Perceiving Bergoglio's resignation as a threat to the Church, Pope Benedict invites him to the Palace of Castel Gandolfo. At the castle, the two popes converse about homosexuality, communion of the divorced, and more. 'You have been one of my harshest critics, there's a lot of competition for that title', Pope Benedict says to Bergoglio, as their views never align. Pope Benedict asks Bergoglio about him openly giving sacraments to those who are out of communion, to the divorced. Bergoglio says, 'Oh, I believe giving communion is not a reward for the virtuous, it is food for the starving'. Pope Benedict then questions him, whether his personal beliefs matter more than what the Church has taught for hundreds of years. To that, Bergoglio cites scriptures, 'I came to all sinners'. They have a back and forth on the idea of mercy. Bergoglio has the final word: 'Mercy is dynamite that blows down walls.' Instead of taking offence, Pope Benedict says, 'You have an answer for everything… you are far too clever'. In many scenes such as these, the movie showed these two religious leaders with opposing views navigating each other's thoughts, even though they fundamentally disagreed with each other. They were listening, challenging, reflecting, and even becoming friends as a consequence of the dialogue, apparently. Dialogue in Indian academia Dialogue has now become a rarity in the Indian context, even in universities and academia. Universities are supposed to be spaces that foster critical thinking, where ideas should clash and grow, where students and teachers question and disagree, but still talk and learn. Far from this ideal picture, there has been a lot of talk about the loss of academic freedom in India. Over the past 10 years, India has plummeted on the academic freedom index ranks, according to the 'Free to Think 2024' annual report published by the Scholars at Risk (SAR) Academic Freedom Monitoring Project. According to the Academic Freedom Index, India now ranks as 'completely restricted', its lowest score since the mid-1940s. The Supreme Court on May 2, 2025, allowed a Dalit Ph.D. scholar and Left student leader Ramadas K.S. to be reinstated in the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) while reducing his two-year suspension for allegedly indulging in activities which were 'not in the interest of the nation'. In a notice that was sent to Mr. Ramdas dated March 7, TISS referred to his role in screening the documentary 'Ram Ke Naam' on January 26 as a 'mark of dishonour and protest' against the Ram Mandir idol consecration in Ayodhya. In another instance, Vikrant Singh, a Ph.D. student who had received a termination letter from IIT Guwahati, was reinstated in the institute after the Gauhati High Court stated that the institute had unjustly handled Mr. Singh's case. The institute alleged that Mr. Singh had been stirring up controversies and trouble in IIT Guwahati, since the time he joined. The court said that Mr. Singh was not given a proper hearing, and the institute didn't share with him the documents of allegations against him; hence, principles of natural justice were ignored. The courts reinstating students like Mr. Ramdas and Mr. Singh is welcome. It would, however, be ideal if universities set the precedence by creating spaces where students can hold a dialogue with the administration, faculty and among themselves without rancour.
