DistantNews
Support us
Pope leads procession on boat across Roman lake
🇵🇾 Paraguay /Culture & Society

Pope leads procession on boat across Roman lake

From ABC Color · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Pope Leo XIV became the first pontiff to lead a traditional procession on Lake Albano, near Castel Gandolfo, aboard a boat.
  • The procession, held annually since 1954 for the feast of the Virgin Mary, saw over thirty other boats follow the Pope's vessel.
  • During a preceding Mass, the Pope encouraged attendees to resist hatred and violence, emphasizing the world's need for peace and hope.

Pope Leo XIV made history on August 29, 2026, by leading a procession on a boat across Lake Albano, located at the foot of Castel Gandolfo, a town often used for papal retreats. This marked the first time a pontiff has participated in this aquatic tradition, which has been celebrated annually since 1954 in honor of the Virgin Mary.

They say that turning the other cheek is for losers, that giving instead of rejecting is for naive people, that forgiving without limits is for the weak... Let us not be mistaken: hatred and violence lead to nothing good, only to destruction and death.

— Pope Leo XIVThe Pope's message during his homily at the Mass preceding the procession.

Onboard a vessel adorned with an image of Mary and a Vatican flag, Pope Leo XIV, accompanied by members of the Curia, religious sisters, and collaborators, guided the procession. More than thirty smaller boats, including dinghies and kayaks, followed his lead across the lake.

Prior to embarking on the water, the Pope presided over a Mass at the Church of Maria Santissima del Lago. Addressing the faithful present, he delivered a homily urging them to reject hatred and violence. "They say that turning the other cheek is for losers, that giving instead of rejecting is for naive people, that forgiving without limits is for the weak... Let us not be mistaken: hatred and violence lead to nothing good, only to destruction and death," the pontiff stated.

the world is very much in need of life, of hope, of serenity and of peace.

— Pope Leo XIVThe Pope's statement on the global need for positive values.

Pope Leo XIV underscored the world's profound need for "life, hope, serenity, and peace." He called for preventing "evil from disfiguring humanity and corrupting people's hearts." By joining this deeply felt tradition among the communities surrounding the volcanic lake, including Castel Gandolfo, where the Vatican maintains a summer palace, Pope Leo XIV continued a practice that his predecessor, Francis, had not utilized. Previous pontiffs, such as Paul VI and John Paul II, had witnessed the procession but had not personally taken part on a boat.

prevent that evil from disfiguring humanity and corrupting people's hearts.

— Pope Leo XIVThe Pope's call to resist negative influences.
About this summary

Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

More Stories

From Our Blog