Pope Leo takes part in historic Marian Boat possession

Pope Leo XIV has become the first Pope to take part by boat in the Marian procession for the Feast of Our Lady of the Lake in Castel Gandolfo, crossing the waters that have framed the papal summer residence for 400 years.

The Holy Father first presided at Mass on Saturday, August 29, at 6 p.m. in the Church of Maria Santissima del Lago—the small lakeside church consecrated by Pope St. Paul VI on August 15, 1977.

After Mass, the statue of Our Lady of the Lake was carried in procession from the church, which belongs to the Pontifical Parish of St. Thomas of Villanova, down to the “Tropicana” shoreline.

There the image was placed on a boat provided by the Castelli Romani Regional Park. The Pope boarded the same vessel and traveled toward “Giorgio’s Beach,” at the foot of the Apostolic Palace.

About ten civilian boats—including two canoes—and several law-enforcement vessels accompanied them. The lake crossing lasted about 25 minutes.

St. Paul VI and St. John Paul II both took part in this procession in earlier years, but neither traveled the water section.

Pope Leo XIV is the first Successor of Peter to do so.

The feast itself is relatively recent. It began in the Marian Year of 1954, when Fr. Dino Sella wanted to include everyone who worked around the lake.

The church was built 23 years later as a church that “breathes the lake”—an image of the Church as the boat of St. Peter.

Parish priest Fr. Tadeusz Rozmus said the Pope’s presence is also thanksgiving for creation: the lake, the mountains, and the beauty of Castel Gandolfo.

The celebration falls within festivities marking 400 years of papal presence there, beginning with Urban VIII in 1626.

Mayor Alberto De Angelis said the invitation grew from a desire of local residents. The town thanked the Pope for placing their small community “at the center of the world” and for joining the feast “as one of them.”