The Holy Father will spend most of July at the Apostolic Palace of Castel Gandolfo.Although he will still be available for the Sunday Angelus, his schedule will be otherwise rather bare for the "period of rest."
The Prefecture of the Pontifical Household announced on Friday that the Holy Father will retreat to the summer residence, 25 miles southeast of Rome, on July 7.
The Holy See's Press Office noted that all private and special audiences will be suspended during the Pope's holidays, including general audiences normally held on Wednesdays. The next general audience after July 7 will be held on Aug. 4.
During what the Vatican noted as his "period of rest," Benedict XVI will, however, publicly recite the Angelus prayers on Sundays, according to the Vatican.
Pope Benedict XVI is known to spend his vacation time between intense study and prayer.
The major event remaining on the his schedule before next week's departure is a pastoral Visit to Sulmona, Italy this Sunday in commemoration of the 800th year since the birth of St. Celestine, a 13th century Pope.
SIC: CNA