Pope begins his summer break after decisive flexing of muscle on international and church stage

ROME — Pope Leo XIV began a summer vacation on Sunday, capping a whirlwind finale to the first half of 2026, in which he emerged as a powerful global statesman on issues from artificial intelligence to war and flexed decisive papal muscle to govern internal church problems.

Leo is spending the rest of July at the papal retreat at Castel Gandolfo, the Vatican’s historic summer residence south of Rome that the American pope has turned into his weekly getaway for tennis and swimming.

The Vatican said Leo would remain there until July 27, with all audiences suspended, and confirmed speculation that he would move into the Apostolic Palace overlooking Lake Alban, not the smaller villa on the estate where he had spent his days off for the past year.

Leo made that clear upon arrival, appearing from the palace balcony overlooking the town’s main piazza to greet residents and offer a blessing.

“I’m very happy to be here with you, to be able to spend the next few weeks here for a bit of rest, a bit of prayer, a bit of reading and I hope a bit of sport,” he said to laughter in the crowd.

Pope Francis had eschewed the