Pope Benedict XVI is Making Most of the Summer Months, says Fr. Lombardi

(July 14, 2011) Pope Benedict XVI began his vacation last Thursday, which he will spend for the second consecutive year in the pontifical summer residence in Castel Gandolfo. Shortly after his arrival, the Pope appeared on the balcony to greet those who gathered there to welcome him and said. "Here I have everything: mountains, lake, sea, a beautiful church with a renovated facade and good people. I'm happy to be here. I hope the Lord will allow us to have a good vacation." Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, director of the Vatican press office and Vatican Radio said that the Holy Father chose to remain in Castel Gandolfo instead of the vacation in the Italian Alps, in order to remain in a known quiet place, which is cooler than Rome, with gardens where the Pope can walk, and it has places adapted to intellectual work as well as to prayer. The choice of place was also motivated by the trips planned for this summer: to Madrid for World Youth Day in August, to Ancona, Italy in September and to Germany at the end of September. Father Lombardi also mentioned that the Pontiff is keen to complete the third volume of his great work on Jesus of Nazareth, on the childhood of Christ, on the Gospels of the childhood. "He has already started to work these last months in his free time, but it will probably be the moment to complete this work or at least to advance it decisively,” Father Lombardi said. He added that the weekly recitation of the Angelus prayer at midday on Sunday will continue from Castel Gandolfo in the courtyard of the Apostolic Palace. In the month of July, no general audiences will be held on Wednesdays. The weekly catecheses will begin again August 3^rd in Castel Gandolfo, unless the crowds are too large, in which case they will be held in the Vatican. He will be remaining at Castel Gandolfo until the end of September.