Pope heads to Castel Gandolfo to write new encyclical, book

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Comments: 6

Vatican City, Jul 7, 2010 / 01:40 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- The Holy Father retired on Wednesday afternoon to his residence at Castel Gandolfo where he will be spending the greater part of the next few months. He asked for prayers as he retires for a time of rest, work, study and writing.

Today, Pope Benedict broke with the tradition of his first five summers as Pope, which entailed heading to the mountains in the north of Italy. This year he will stay in the papal villa just minutes from Rome by helicopter.

The director of the Pontifical Villas, Saverio Petrillo, told Vatican Radio on Tuesday that there was great anticipation surrounding the Pope's arrival and that staff there has been working hard, but with "joy and enthusiasm," to prepare for the occasion.

Petrillo explained that Castel Gandolfo has been used for the last 400 years as the "stable See" for Popes in summer. He added also that the Holy Father took to the villa—from which one can observe Rome and the Mediterranean on one side and a lake and surrounding hills on the other—immediately upon arriving there for his first visit in May of 2005.

According to a report from Marco Ansaldo in La Repubblica, the Pope's days will begin with 7:30 a.m. Mass and then continue with time divided between study, meditation, prayer, music and writing.

Ansaldo said that the Pope has a twofold "ambitious objective" this summer: "beginning a new book on the Gospels of the infancy of Jesus and giving form to the first draft of his new encyclical, the fourth of his Pontificate."

The encyclical, he reported, will likely be on "Faith."

Looking forward to his time at the hilltop retreat, the Holy Father asked during the Polish greeting after the catechesis at Wednesday morning's general audience for "prayers in the days of my sojourn at Castel Gandolfo."

Comments: 6

Subscriber comments:

Published by: Philip Shube
Cameroon 07/09/2010 06:50 AM EST

I am most delighted to know that the Holy Father's new encyclical will b a discourse on faith. Most Catholic Christians nowadays are leaving the Church as a result of an ungrounded faith which shivers at the slightest trial and crumbles like a tottering wall. In the West in particular, the ever increasing desire for materialism has produced a new form of Idolatry which is gradually closing up the doors and windows of spirituality, faith, hope and love. The element of faith in God is the fundamental foundation of our Christian belief upon which our salvific hope is estblished. We pray that may God so enlighten the Holy Father to stir up and enkindle this flame of faith in the hearts of Christians who struggle to keep their belief amidst the growing distractions that come with the modern changes of our time.

Published by: Cradle Catholic
California USA 07/08/2010 01:09 PM EST

Rate: Excellent

Faith is getting back to basics, and I hope Pope Benedict will write about the "Deposit of Faith", which is the body of knowledge left by Jesus to His Church through the Apostles, and that is documented for our benefit in the Bible. The Deposit of Faith cannot be changed. The Deposit of Faith does not grow and be subject to being 'tweaked' to fit our modern-day lives. We must fit our beliefs around the Deposit of Faith - all of it. Not just some of it. The Deposit of Faith is like if we went to the bank today, and placed 3 items in a safe deposit box. Years from now, we should be able to go to the box and find the original 3 items, intact. We should not find 4 items or 2 items or 3 damaged items. We should find the same 3 items, intact. That is like the Christian DEPOSIT OF FAITH. I pray to God that Pope Benedict writes about our Deposit of Faith, all of it and keeping it intact, from the apostolic times.

Published by: Bernice Nordhus
Seneca, Kansas US 07/08/2010 11:13 AM EST

I will keep the Pope in my prayers. I will pray that God will give him the strength to stay strong in a world where many want to rule with their teachings rather than God's

Published by: Pauline
Walpole, NH USA 07/08/2010 10:53 AM EST

Enjoy your vacation, Your Holiness! You deserve a break!

Published by: Mary R. Bellino
Cumerland, Maine, USA 07/08/2010 08:44 AM EST

I and my family are 100% behind Pope Benedict and support and love him as Christ's Vicar on Earth. We are happy for him that he can enjoy some rest and relaxation at Castel Gandolfo besides working on his new encyclical and book. God bless him as he courageously works for and defends the teachings of the Catholic Church! May Our Lady and St. Michael watch over him, comfort him and stengthen him! Long live the Pope!!!

Published by: John David N. Casas
Philippines 07/07/2010 08:42 PM EST

Our Father in heaven Holy be your name your kingdom come your will be done on earth, as in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive our sins as we forgive those who have sin against us. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil Amen. - May God Bless us -.

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