Pope Leo XIV will resume the papal vacation tradition by taking two weeks off at Castel Gandolfo, the hilltop town a dozen or so miles southeast of Rome, which popes for centuries used as their summer retreat.

Leo greeted well-wishers who lined the main road into town to welcome him before waving from the balcony of the villa where he will be staying for what he says will be a “brief period of rest.” “I hope everyone can have some vacation time to restore the body and spirit,