The Vatican Observatory will host a conference bringing together prominent physicists to discuss the mysteries of the cosmos. The meeting will also honour Georges Lemaître, the priest who first proposed the Big Bang theory. The event, scheduled for 16-21 June, will feature 40 leading experts in cosmology, relativity and quantum theory. The gathering aims to Read more
Fancy a holiday at the Pope’s house? Pope Francis has opened his private apartments at Castel Gandolfo to tourists. The Castel is about 25 kilometres from Rome. He has only visited Castel Gandolfo a couple of times since his 2013 election. He has never spent the night there. Nor has he moved into his sumptuous Read more
A new weekly train service for the public has been launched between the Vatican and the traditional papal summer residence at Castel Gandolfo. The public can now visit the Vatican Museums in Rome and the gardens and a new papal portrait gallery in the Apostolic Palace of Castel Gandolfo — thanks to the Saturday service Read more
Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI is expected to spend two weeks at the papal summer residence Castel Gandolfo during the Italian summer. Vatican spokesman Fr Federico Lombardi said Pope Francis invited Benedict to spend some time at Castel Gandolfo and Benedict accepted. The dates for Benedict’s visit have not been set. But he is scheduled to Read more
Pope Francis is opening the doors to an earthly paradise: the working farm at the papal summer residence here that produces the dairy, meat and vegetables for the pope and his staff. The Vatican is planning to open the farm at Castel Gandolfo to the public next year, after finding success with its guided tours Read more
Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI looked refreshed and stood for an hour and a half during a Mass with his former students this week. Members of the Ratzinger “schuelerkreis” or “student circle” had been meeting at Castel Gandolfo in Italy, and then travelled to the Vatican for a Mass on August 24, with Benedict as principal Read more
Pope Francis’s advisors have asked him to take a holiday this year, as he sometimes gets very fatigued. In the first year of his pontificate, amid a hectic schedule, Pope Francis did not have a break and did not even spend time at the traditional papal summer retreat at Castel Gandolfo. Church officials have said Read more
Pope Francis has opened the private papal gardens at Castel Gandolfo, south of Rome, to the public. People who want to visit the gardens at the traditional summer residence of popes can buy a ticket to go on a tour. Modest dress is mandatory, so those wearing shorts, mini-skirts or tank tops will not be Read more
In an historic meeting, Pope Francis and Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI prayed side-by-side in the chapel at the papal summer residence in Castel Gandolfo. “In the chapel, the Pope Emeritus offered the place of honour to Pope Francis, but he said: ‘We are brothers’, and wanted them to kneel together in the same place,” said Read more
Pope Benedict has withdrawn to Castel Gandolfo while his successor is chosen. But few know that the papal summer residence of almost 400 years has a curious history, serving as a hideout for Jews, delivery ward and target for paparazzi. In the late evening of Aug. 6, 1978, a heavy iron chain was pulled across Read more