Vatican Gardens

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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.

PHOTOS: New Jubilee tour of Vatican Gardens at Castel Gandolfo highlights beauty of creation

Jan 11, 2025

By Courtney Mares

A new tour for Jubilee 2025 of the Vatican Gardens at the pope’s summer palace in Castel Gandolfo aims to... Read more

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.

The elephant that captivated the pope and lived in the Vatican gardens

Jan 10, 2025

By Almudena Martínez-Bordiú

During his Jan. 8 general audience, Pope Francis enjoyed a circus performance that included two animatronic elephants, evoking Pope Leo... Read more

Isabella Salandri gives visitors a preview tour of the Vatican Gardens in Vatican City on Aug. 23, 2024.

PHOTOS: New Vatican Gardens tour invites families to explore God’s natural ‘masterpieces’

Aug 29, 2024

By Hannah Brockhaus

Children and their families now have the chance to encounter the Vatican Gardens in a way tailored to capture the... Read more

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.

After Benedict XVI’s death, Vatican monastery to be home to Benedictine nuns

Nov 13, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

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