Pope Benedict in the Alps last year, after he broke his wrist. (CNS/L'Osservatore Romano)
VATICAN CITY — Pope Benedict XVI wants to spend his summer vacation resting and studying … not packing and moving.
The Vatican announced today that while the pope is very grateful for the invitations to return to the northern Italian Alps this summer, he’s decided to go straight to the papal summer villa at Castel Gandolfo in mid-July and stay in one place until September, when he goes to England and Scotland.
In the late 1980s Pope John Paul II, an avid hiker and skiier, began the modern papal practice of heading north for a Alpine vacation. Pope Benedict followed his lead in 2005-2009.
“But this year, he prefers to begin the summer period of rest and study without the need for further transfers,” the Vatican press office said.
so the pope will not be in Rome in August 2010.
We are visiting Rome then, but we can wait until October. Will the pope be in Rome in either August or October?