A break from work to recharge, an opportunity to travel and contemplate the beauty of nature, a time for new reading and friendships. But also a space to cultivate, through meditation and prayer, an essential aspect: the interior. These are some of the main aspects highlighted by the Pontiffs regarding vacation time. Pope Leo XIV will also spend a period of rest during his first summer as Successor of Peter. From July 6 to 20, the Pope will travel to the Pontifical Villas of Castel Gandolfo, a town 25 kilometers from Rome, in the Castelli Romani area. At this site, which Pope John Paul II affectionately called “Vatican Number Two,” he will celebrate Mass on Sunday, July 13, at the Pontifical Parish of Santo Tommaso da Villanova. On Sunday, July 20, he will celebrate Mass at the Cathedral of Albano, which had been assigned to then-Cardinal Prevost as the titular church in the Consistory for the creation of cardinals. Also on Sundays, July 13 and 20, Pope Leo XIV will pray the Angelus in Liberty Square in Castel Gandolfo.

An auspicious time

How can we make the most of our vacation time? This question, seemingly inessential from a spiritual perspective, actually finds its place in many of the Pope’s reflections. First, because vacation time does not play a marginal role in human life. The Pope emphasizes that it should not be seen solely as a period of pure idleness coupled with rest. This time can be, for example, a propitious moment to reflect on the beauty of nature, defined by Pope Paul VI as “the book of God.” During vacation time, Pope Montini himself emphasized, one can rediscover contact with the “always open, always new, always marvelous” setting of creation: “space, the atmosphere, animals, things; the sea, the mountains, the plains, the sky with its dawns, its middays, its sunsets, and above all with its starry nights, profound and always enchanting.”

Paul VI: May vacations be a time of vigilant rest

But vacations are also a fruitful time when the interruption of the ordinary rhythm of work can foster inner silence and meditation. Pope Paul VI, in the Angelus of August 5, 1973, outlined a special program for this period of rest:

“Let us ensure that this free time, which we call vacation, is neither wasted nor selfish. Relaxation, rest, recreation (in the etymological sense), yes, but intelligent and vigilant. There are, for example, serious readings to which we cannot devote the necessary time during the year; there are excursions, which are discoveries of the many beautiful riches of our history and our art, to these we give our preference. And then let us remember that vacations are the privileged time to make good friends, to get to know places, customs, and the needs of people we don’t usually approach, and to meet new people worthy of our conversation.”

John Paul II: Encounter is one of the values ​​of vacation

Vacations are an opportunity to share moments of tranquility. Pope John Paul II, who loved spending time relaxing in his beloved mountains, repeatedly reminded us that humankind needs harmony to regenerate itself, to experience the beauty of encounter with others. “For a vacation to be truly a vacation and bring authentic well-being,” Pope Wojtyla affirmed at the Angelus on July 6, 1997, “it is necessary for a person to rediscover a good balance within themselves, with others, and with their environment. It is this inner and outer harmony that regenerates the soul and restores energy to the body and spirit.”

“One of the values ​​of a vacation is that of encounter, of being with others selflessly, for the pleasure of friendship and sharing moments of peace. However, knowing the human soul and the conditioning of a consumer society, I would like to suggest, especially to young people, that they take healthy vacations, that is, healthy getaways, avoiding transgressions that are harmful to their own health and that of others. Otherwise, you will end up wasting time and resources and returning from your long-awaited “vacation” without any benefit. Getting away can be useful, but only if it doesn’t evade sound moral criteria or even simple respect for one’s own health. The right to vacation should not make us forget those who, for various reasons, cannot leave their usual environment, whether for reasons of age, health, or work, economic difficulties, or other problems”

Benedict XVI: In the face of nature, man rediscovers himself as a creature

Especially for those who live in large, often hectic and scattered cities, it is important to immerse themselves in nature for a while. Pope Benedict XVI, during the Angelus on July 17, 2005, in the Combes mountains in the Aosta Valley, emphasized this important need.

“In the world we live in, it’s become almost a necessity to recharge the body and spirit, especially for those who live in cities, where the often hectic living conditions leave little room for silence, reflection, and relaxing contact with nature. Vacations are also days when one can devote more time to prayer, reading, and meditation on the deeper meanings of life, in the serene context of one’s own family and loved ones. Vacation time offers unique opportunities to pause before the evocative spectacles of nature, a marvelous “book” accessible to everyone, young and old. In contact with nature, a person finds their true dimension, rediscovers themselves as creatures, small but at the same time unique, “capable of God” because they are inwardly open to Infinity.”

Francis: On vacation, let us deepen our spiritual path

Vacations are also a time to deepen your spiritual journey. In the Angelus on August 6, 2017, Pope Francis specifically invited us to walk this path alongside the crowded roads between destinations and tourist destinations.

“Summer is a providential moment to increase our commitment to seeking and finding the Lord. During this period, students are free from school commitments and many families go on vacation; it is important that during this period of rest and detachment from daily occupations, we may revitalize the strength of body and spirit, deepening our spiritual journey. (…) May our Mother and Mother of God help us to enter into harmony with the Word of God, so that Christ may be the light and guide of our entire lives. We entrust to her the vacations of all, that they may be serene and fruitful, but above all the summer of all those who cannot take vacations because of age, health or work reasons, financial limitations, or other problems, so that it may also be a time of relaxation, enlivened by friendly presences and happy moments.”

For the Popes, vacation is therefore a time of rest and relaxation, but also a period of meditation, to attune oneself to the Word of God. In this harmony, rest can become a path to glimpse, in inner silence and among the peaks of the soul and nature, the loving gaze of the Lord.

Source:  Amedeo Lomonaco – Vatican Media