Pope Leo XIV began a summer vacation on Sunday, capping a whirlwind finale to the first half of 2026 in which he emerged as a powerful global statesman on issues from artificial intelligence to war and flexed decisive papal muscle to govern internal church problems.

Pope Leo XIV is going on summer vacation after a whirlwind finale to the first half of 2026. Leo is spending the rest of July at the papal retreat in Castel Gandolfo.

Pope Leo XIV is going on summer vacation after a whirlwind finale to the first half of 2026