Photo ©: Vatican Media

(ANS – Castel Gandolfo) – On Saturday, August 15, 2026, at 10 a.m., Pope Leo XIV will preside over Mass for the Solemnity of the Assumption at the Pontifical Parish of St. Thomas of Villanova in Castel Gandolfo, entrusted to the Salesians of Don Bosco. On Saturday, August 29, for the first time, he will celebrate the Eucharist and take part in the procession for the feast of Our Lady of the Lake, also in Castel Gandolfo. “Leo XIV will be the first Pope in history to take part in the procession by boat,” reports the parish priest, Fr. Tadeusz Rozmus, SDB.

Two Marian Masses—one for the Solemnity of the Assumption and the other for the local feast of Our Lady of the Lake—will mark Pope Leo XIV’s program in Castel Gandolfo during the second half of August, while he spends a period of rest there. On Saturday, August 15, at 10 a.m., for the Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary, the Pope will celebrate Mass at the Pontifical Parish of St. Thomas of Villanova. It is a tradition begun by Pope John XXIII, as Fr. Rozmus recalled to Vatican Media. Then, on Saturday, August 29, the Pope will honor the feast of the Collegiate Church of St. Mary of the Lake by presiding over Mass and joining the procession, part of which will take place on the waters of Lake Albano.

Mass and Angelus on the Solemnity of the Assumption

“We are preparing for tomorrow’s event with the involvement of many people in several areas: security, preparation of the church and liturgy,” explained the Polish Salesian. “Many people are interested in taking part. Some will be able to enter the church, although seating is limited. Everyone else will gather in the square in front of the church. At 12 noon, the Angelus prayer, led by our Pope, is scheduled.”

Four Hundred Years of Popes in Castel Gandolfo

The people of this town in the Castelli Romani area are accustomed to living “alongside” the Popes. It was Pope Urban VIII who, in 1626—exactly 400 years ago—began the tradition of the Popes spending the summer in Castel Gandolfo. The parish of St. Thomas of Villanova will commemorate this anniversary, including through historical processions, on the first Saturday and Sunday of September, during the feast of St. Sebastian, the patron saint of Castel Gandolfo.

The involvement of local residents in papal activities throughout the centuries has never diminished, nor has their interest and curiosity in the ceremonies. “The residents are happy because the Pope’s presence brings joy, as does the opportunity to see the Swiss Guards standing in formation in front of the Apostolic Palace. These are things that create a truly beautiful atmosphere, one that inspires enthusiasm and shared joy.”

Leo XIV to Travel by Boat for the Procession of Our Lady of the Lake

On August 29, in addition to presiding over Mass, the Bishop of Rome will participate in the procession for the local feast of Our Lady of the Lake, patroness of a church belonging to the parish of St. Thomas of Villanova and located on the shores of Lake Albano. The new church was consecrated by St. Paul VI in 1977 and visited by St. John Paul II on September 2, 1979, the feast of Our Lady.

“The procession begins at the church and part of it will take place on the lake. Leo XIV, the first Pope to do so, will travel by boat. The last Popes to take part in the procession were St. Paul VI and St. John Paul II.”

The enthusiasm of the people of the Castelli Romani is also spreading among the many tourists visiting Rome, who gladly travel to Castel Gandolfo to see the Pope at his summer residence. “The Pope’s presence brings many people here: tourists from Rome and from other parts of Italy. As parish priest,” Fr. Rozmus concluded, “I receive many emails from people who wish to take part or seek information about the celebrations. The Pope in Castel Gandolfo is a magnet that draws many people.”

Daniele Piccini

Source: Vatican News