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Vatican Gardens

A new tour of the Vatican Gardens at the pope’s summer palace in Castel Gandolfo is opening in spring 2025 for jubilee pilgrims who wish to escape the crowds in Rome for a day and immerse themselves in the natural beauty of God’s creation. / Credit: Courtney Mares/CNA

New Jubilee Tour of Vatican Gardens at Castel Gandolfo Highlights Beauty of Creation: Photos

Jan 11, 2025

A new tour for Jubilee 2025 of the Vatican Gardens at the pope’s summer palace in Castel Gandolfo aims to bring Pope Francis’ Laudato Si’ to life.

Pope Francis watches as performers put on a show at his general audience on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in Paul VI Hall at the Vatican. / Credit: Daniel Ibañez/CNA

The Elephant That Captivated The Pope and Lived in the Vatican Gardens

Jan 10, 2025

During his Jan. 8 general audience, Pope Francis enjoyed a circus performance that included two animatronic elephants, evoking Pope Leo X’s pet elephant.

Mater Ecclesiae Monastery in Vatican City State, where a group of Benedictine nuns from Argentina will take up residence in January 2024 at the invitation of Pope Francis. | Credit: Krzysztof Golik, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons.

After Benedict XVI’s Death, Vatican Monastery to be Home to Benedictine Nuns

Nov 13, 2023

Pope Benedict XVI spent his retirement at Mater Ecclesiae Monastery until his death on Dec. 31, 2022.