VATICAN CITY (RNS) — Castel Gandolfo's pilgrims, bikers and locals have missed a papal presence in the town.

ROME (AP) — Pope Leo XIV on Sunday heads to the papal summer residence for a six-week vacation, giving the hilltop town of Castel Gandolfo back its most illustrious resident after Pope Francis stayed away during his 12-year pontificate.

Pope Leo XIV on Monday enjoyed his first day of rest and relaxation at Caste Gandolo, the hill town south of Rome that is the traditional papal summer cool getaway from the Roman heat but which was closed and turned into a museum by his predecessor Francis.