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29 August 2026
Iniziative (EN) -
Maison de la Paix (EN)
29 August 2026 will go down in the history of Castel Gandolfo and of devotion to Our Lady of the Lake.
For the first time in history, in fact, a Pope took part in the traditional procession of Our Lady of the Lake by boat, crossing the waters of Lake Albano alongside the venerated image of the Virgin.
After celebrating Holy Mass in the church of Maria Santissima del Lago, Pope Leo XIV followed the procession to the shore. There, together with the statue of the Madonna, he boarded the boat which travelled across the lake to the area of Giorgio’s Beach, at the foot of the Apostolic Palace. The crossing lasted about 25 minutes and was accompanied by other vessels and the boats of the authorities.
A delegation from the ‘United States of the World’ and the "Fondazione Mediterraneo" took part in the ceremony.
‘It was not merely a crossing of the lake,’ said President Michele Capasso, ‘because the Pope wished to immerse himself fully in a tradition deeply cherished by the community of Castel Gandolfo, setting out on the journey alongside the people and accompanying Mary to the place that has always provided the natural backdrop for this festival.’
For a few minutes, the boat, the water, the Virgin Mary and the Successor of Peter formed an image of extraordinary spiritual power.
- VIDEO
- MEDNEWS
