Dispatch: Papal holiday won’t put the lid on bubbling tensions

Pope Leo’s summer recess at Castel Gandolfo has brought calm to the Vatican, but the SSPX’s appeal and renewed debate over ‘Traditionis Custodes’ threaten to disturb the lull.

(Catholic Herald) — Close on the heels of ordination season in dioceses across the world, the relative peace of the summer recess continues around the Vatican, with Pope Leo’s holidays not due to end until next weekend, and only the appeal from the Society of St Pius X threatening to interrupt his break.

Leo’s return to taking his summer holidays in the papal villa of Castel Gandolfo has been met with widespread joy. Pope Francis’s decision not to use the summer residence, and instead open it up to tourists, left the hilltop town devoid not only of its annual papal visitor but also of the crucial tourist income that accompanied the papal holidays.

For the American Pope, Castel Gandolfo has proved a firm favourite. He has been visiting every week for a dies non and this month is spending just over three weeks of quiet time in the villa. Last year he spent the summer break in Villa Barberini, but this year he is ensconced in the main villa – the traditional summer home of the popes.

The rest of this report, originally published by this correspondent on the Catholic Herald on July 18, is found at this link.