Pope Francis to spend summer at Vatican
Pope Francis plans to remain at the Casa Santa Marta residence in the Vatican, even during the summer months. Previous Popes have usually left Rome for Castel Gandolfo or the mountains during August. The Director of the Press Office of the Holy See, Fr Federico Lombardi, SJ made the announcement after presenting the Pope's summer schedule today. Fr Lombardi also announced that the public celebration of morning Mass in the chapel of the Domus will be suspended from 8 July.
The schedule released by the Prefecture of the Pontifical Household also explains that all private and special audiences will also be suspended. There will be no General Audiences during the month of July. These will resume on Wednesday, 7 August, at the Vatican.
Pope Francis will travel to Castel Gandolfo on 14 July for the Sunday Angelus. From Monday, 22 July 22 to Monday, 29 July, the Pope will be in Brazil for World Youth Day celebrations.
Source: Vatican Radio