Pope Leo XIV to Close Castel Gandolfo Museum, Restore Papal Residence

The Apostolic Palace of Castel Gandolfo will cease to be a museum starting July 2026, with online ticket sales ending June 30. The decision, attributed to Pope Leo XIV, reverses Pope Francis's 2016 opening of the papal summer residence to the public. The palace, located 25 km from Rome on Lake Albano, has been a papal retreat since the 17th century. Pope Francis never used it and transformed it into a museum, later opening the gardens in 2021. Pope Leo XIV, who has been staying at Villa Barberini, will move into the more secure Apostolic Palace. The change reflects differing papal styles: Francis's openness versus Leo's desire for a private spiritual retreat. The palace has historical significance: it housed popes, including the deaths of Pius XII (1958) and Paul VI (1978), and served as a refuge during WWII. Renovations began in May 2026 for functional reconversion, not major architectural changes.