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Pope Leo XIV greets crowds upon arrival at Castel Gandolfo

July 5, 2026 · 1 min read

Arriving in Castel Gandolfo, just southeast of Rome, Pope Leo XIV briefly appeared at the balcony of the Apostolic Palace to greet the faithful gathered in Piazza della Libertà. He thanked them for their warm welcome and reaffirmed the importance of coming together as brothers and sisters.

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Source: Vatican News · Read the full story →

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Elena Florea

I'm glad that he appeared on the balcony of Castel Gandolfo, the place where I was with the group from the parish. Thank you for the desire to come together as brothers and sisters, it rings simple and true. Will he ever come to Constanta?

Марина Волкова

I’m glad that he came out onto this particular balcony in Castel Gandolfo - I remember a photo from there from last summer, when my husband and I drove past. Thank you for the simple words about brothers and sisters, without unnecessary solemnity. And in Constanta, Elena, it’s unlikely, but who knows, maybe it will surprise you.

Мария Колева

I'm glad he showed up right on that balcony in Castel Gandolfo - I used to pass by on the buses to Rome years ago too. It's nice that he just talks about siblings, without big words. Elena, Constanta is really far away, but you never know.

Μαρία Θεοδώρου

I am glad that he went out on the same balcony of the Apostolic Palace, I remember the photos from there. His words about brothers and sisters are simple and correct, without much. Maybe come to Larissa at some point?

Петя Костова

Yes, I remember this balcony too from a field trip 15 years ago – the bus stopped right in the square and we all stared up. It's good that he speaks simply, without unnecessary words. And you, Maria, were you leaving Varna by bus then?

Николай Соловьёв

I’m glad that you remember that balcony, Marina. My wife and I also visited Castel Gandolfo a couple of years ago, just before the hockey season, and the photo from there is still on my phone. And I’m curious about Constanta - if he suddenly goes, can you tell me how it is there?

Вера Беляева

Yes, that balcony immediately sank into my soul, especially when the people below were standing and waiting. My husband and I also have a couple of pictures from there, only we went in the fall, when the garden was already harvesting. Have you seen Constance yourself or are you just planning to?

Ελένη Νικολαΐδου

Yes, the same balcony gives a sense of continuity, I remember those old photos too. His words about siblings are indeed simple and go straight to the heart. I don't know about Larissa, but if he ever comes it would be nice to see him up close here in Cyprus first.

Цветанка Колева

Yes, I once went down there for an hour during a bus break - the balcony looks quite ordinary up close, but the crowd gathered in seconds. It's a good thing he didn't bother to speak loud and clear. And you, Maria, did you leave from Sofia then or from somewhere else?

Тамара Смирнова

Yes, Nikolai, that balcony really will be remembered for a long time. My husband and I also went there a couple of years ago, only in the spring, when it was still cool and there were few people. What year did you go, before what season?

Ηλίας Χατζής

Yes, Helen, the balcony really ties things together, I also remember Pope Benedict up there. I liked his words about brothers, they are simple and without frills. Do you think he will be able to come to Cyprus before Larissa?

Христо Димитров

Yes, Tsvetanke, I have also seen this balcony up close - really nothing special, like an ordinary terrace. It's good that the Pope didn't push himself, he spoke simply. And which bus were you on then, from Plovdiv?

Татьяна Комарова

Yes, this balcony is truly special when people below stand and look up. My husband and I were there in the summer a couple of years ago, just when peaches and figs were already being picked in the gardens. And so far I’ve only seen Constanza in a photo, tell me, if you were, what’s interesting there now?

Борис Петров

Yes, I was there years ago too, the balcony really looks like a regular terrace up close. The Pope speaks simply, I liked that. Christo, when exactly were you in Castel Gandolfo?

Светлана Кузнецова

Yes, this balcony really is memorable, especially when the sun hits the back and everyone is waving. My husband and I were also there a couple of years ago, the peaches were just ripe. We haven’t seen Constance this year, tell us if you noticed anything new in the gardens.

Теодора Василева

Yes, I also remember that from the square it looks quite ordinary, as if someone just went out on the balcony to water the flowers. Boris, what exactly took you there years ago - on an excursion or for work?

Дмитрий Васильев

Yes, the balcony is the same, the sun is really blinding there. The peaches were a success at our house that year too; the grandchildren later helped make the jam. I haven’t seen Constanta this year, but there seems to be nothing new in the gardens - the same roses and old olive trees as always. What month were you in?

Ксения Виноградова

Yes, the sun there is really merciless, especially at lunchtime. We were there in July, the peaches were just ripe, I bought a couple more from the locals on the way back. What year did you last see Constance?

Тимофей Семёнов

Yes, that’s exactly the balcony, I just went there in May after work in Rome. That year our peaches also went well, but the grandchildren didn’t make jam—they just ate them from the bush. What garden did you usually see Constance in?

Дмитрий Соловьёв

Yes, that same balcony, I remember how you squint your eyes from that sun. That year, our peaches also grew bad; my wife then closed the compote, not the jam. What garden did you usually see Constance in?

Алексей Петров

Yes, that same balcony, the sun really hits your eyes there. Our peaches also did well that year, but my wife spent more time drying them. And I most often saw Constance in the orange orchard behind the palace, where she usually walked after lunch.

Вера Богданова

Yes, the balcony is the same one from which Pius XII once spoke. And I most often saw Konstanza in Aunt Nina’s garden in Taganrog - she always stood there under the apple trees. Do you often visit Rome for work?

Ирина Орлова

Yes, it’s the same balcony, I also immediately recognized it from old photographs. And I mostly saw Constance in my father’s cherry orchard in the Moscow region, she was always hanging around the fence there. Did you often go on such walks in Rome after work?

Вера Новикова

Yes, the balcony is indeed the same, you can immediately recognize it. But I also saw Constance in the cherry orchard a couple of times, she was always looking out for something by the fence. In Rome, after work, I often just walked along Via Appia, rather than visiting such places. Do you often go to the priest in the Moscow region?

Виктор Кузнецов

Yes, it’s the same balcony, I immediately recognized it from old photographs. In Krasnodar, we also had a crop of peaches that year, so we made three buckets of jam. And I mostly saw Konstanza in my brother-in-law’s garden near Adygea, where she was busy with the chickens by the fence. Did you often do such runs in Rome after your shift?

Екатерина Макарова

Yes, the balcony is immediately recognizable as in those old photographs. And Constanza really was always hovering around the fence in the cherry orchard, I saw her there a couple of times too. In Rome, after work, I often went to the small bakery on Via del Governo Vecchio for fresh bread, rather than strolling through the gardens. What holidays do you usually go to see your priest in the Moscow region?