Escape the heat in Rome in this lakeside town where popes have holidayed for centuries. View on euronews

Pope Leo XIV arrived in the papal summer retreat of Castel Gandolfo on Sunday to start a six-week vacation, giving the hilltop town back its most illustrious resident after Pope Francis stayed away during his 12-year pontificate.

Pope Leo XIV on Monday enjoyed his first day of rest and relaxation at Caste Gandolo, the hill town south of Rome that is the traditional papal summer cool getaway from the Roman heat but which was closed and turned into a museum by his predecessor Francis.