The Pope on holiday: Lorenzago di Cadore hosts Pope Benedict XVI

I always thought popes would go on sabbatical-like holidays.
You know the kind – where you go and meditate in Assisi for a few weeks before getting back to your busy papal duties.
But it seems popes enjoy seaside and mountain locations as much as the rest of us, and this year Pope Benedict XVI will spend some time in the mountains in Veneto.

The Bishop of Bolzano and Bressanone, Karl Golser, has announced that instead of passing his holidays at Isarco, in Bressanone, the Pope will instead go to Lorenzago di Cadore in Belluno, in the Dolomites area of Veneto.

The Bishop has released a statement saying “For us what counts is that the Holy Father can spend a relaxing time, regardless of the location.
”You’d think that was the least someone could say in knowing their town has been passed over by the Pope for somewhere else.
Despite that, the issue surrounding the papal holiday has appeared in local press, although it is the eighth time the Pope has chosen Lorenzago for his summer holidays.

You can imagine the preparations, although the Castello Mirabello has already hosted Benedict XVI back in 2007, and prior, even had the honour of hosting John Paul II.