Castel Gandolfo - Leo XIV is shaping his “papal routine”, still in its trial phase, yet already revealing clear traits. On Tuesdays, the schedule shows no private audiences: a deliberate choice that allows the Pope to carve out a space for inner repositioning. This is not an empty or inactive time, but rather a moment for recovering energy and for resting before God.
The Pope knows well that within the Vatican his freedom is limited. There is no possibility of walking through the gardens without mobilizing the entire security apparatus, nor of living without indiscreet eyes, amid a constant flow of people, requests, and duties. Too much chaos, too much exposure. Castel Gandolfo thus becomes not an elitist retreat, but a space of spiritual and physical freedom. Certainly, if it weren’t for the reconsiderations tied to the Laudato si’ Village and the use of the villas, reaching them would today be simpler and quicker. Yet despite logistical complications, Leo XIV has begun to take this path: dedicating regular time to silence, rest, and prayer.
And here we glimpse a key element of his style: not educating through invectives, but through example. His predecessoroften resorted to harsh rebukes and sharp words, especially towards priests. Leo XIV, instead, chooses the path of gesture. What does he want to say to the clergy through these choices? The message is simple yet radical: “Rest. Pray and rest.” If the Pope does it, then all the more should priests and bishops.
Rest as a Spiritual Dimension
In biblical tradition, rest is never mere suspension of activity, but sacred time. The Sabbath, at its root, is not a day of idleness, but a time to return to what is essential, to recognize that man is not a slave to productivity, but a beloved child of God. By reserving this space for himself, Leo XIV reminds the clergy that even the ministry must not consume the person. A priest who never rests, who cannot detach, risks living his ministry as mere function, losing the freshness of relationship with God and with others.
Preventing Priestly Burnout
In various dioceses, we have had to confront what is known as pastoral burnout: a syndrome of exhaustion affecting many priests and religious. Anxiety, depression, and a sense of inadequacy—signals that must not be underestimated. When the life of a priest is crushed only by doing—meetings, activities, documents, homilies, administration—without real moments of pause and renewal, the flame goes out. Leo XIV seems to insist that rest is not a luxury, but a necessity. It is part of fidelity to ministry, not a deviation from it. A priest who grants himself time for silent prayer, for authentic friendships, for a walk without a watch, is not neglecting the flock: he is cultivating himself so that his service does not turn sterile.
Formation and Priestly Life
This perspective also questions the formation of future priests. Too often seminaries risk training a model of priest as functionary: always active, always on the front line, with value measured by the quantity of tasks. But true formation should teach the art of uniting contemplation and action, prayer and rest, work and detachment. If one evening in the seminary there are no activities, it is not a disaster—the world survives. St. Thomas Aquinas said: “Gratia non tollit naturam, sed perficit.” Even the body and the psyche demand their rhythms. Ignoring them means forcing a fragile balance. Here psychology converges with theology: rest is care, inner hygiene, prevention of fractures.
A Lesson in Friendship and Freedom
Finally, the Pope suggests that not everything must revolve around the office. The priest cannot be reduced to his role. He needs authentic relationships, true friendships, spaces of gratuitousness. Only then can the ministry avoid becoming a crushing identity. By retreating to Castel Gandolfo, the Pope shows that he too—a man among men—needs freedom, silence, and human relationships not conditioned by the office. It is a silent yet eloquent pedagogy: ministry without breath suffocates; ministry that knows how to renew itself opens to grace.
d.I.A.
Silere non possum