"The pope's farm, even if it is similar to many others, still gives rise
to curiosity," said the Vatican newspaper, L'Osservatore Romano.
Part of the curiosity comes from the fact that, for years, the only
media allowed on the farm have been the writers and photographers who
work for the Vatican newspaper.
L'Osservatore wrote about and published
photos from the farm in its Aug. 31 edition.
The farm, which covers just under 50 acres, is home to an olive grove,
fruit trees and greenhouses used to raise flowers and plants that often
are used to decorate the papal apartments and meeting rooms, the
newspaper said.
Each day, 25 cows produce more than 150 gallons of milk, and more than
200 eggs are collected from some 300 hens. In addition, about 60
chickens are raised for meat.
What the pope and his aides do not use is sold to Vatican employees and retirees at their discount supermarket.
L'Osservatore said the farm took shape in the 1930s under the
pontificate of Pope Pius XI, who saw it "as a model of a genuine
lifestyle, the same he was able to enjoy as a youth."
Saverio Petrillo, director of the papal villa, told the Vatican
newspaper that the farm once hosted two wild boars that had been given
to Pope Paul VI, but they were a bit rowdy.
"The gazelles of Pius XI were more tranquil," Petrillo said. "They were
given to the pope by the apostolic delegate in Egypt, and the pope had
great affection for those beasts; he would go visit them" every time he
went to Castel Gandolfo, and he always went with some treat to feed
them.
"People often say that he would carry around the smaller of the two," Petrillo said.
Unfortunately, the story had a tragic end, he said.
"One day, frightened by a group of young Hungarian scouts who came to
visit the pope, they jumped the fence," and were hit by a car "to Pius
XI's great sorrow."
The article did not mention whether Pope Benedict XVI visits the farm
while at Castel Gandolfo, although he is known to walk daily through the
villa's gardens.