Ashley Noronha joined John Morales on Morning Air to reflect on Pope Leo XIV’s most recent Angelus address from Sunday, July 20th, delivered from his summer residence in Castel Gandolfo. Nestled in the Alban Hills, Castel Gandolfo offers a cooler climate, sometimes up to ten degrees cooler than Rome’s heat, which makes it an ideal place for the Holy Father to step away from the usual pace of Vatican life and adopt a slower, more restful rhythm.
Ashley explained that Pope Leo is not simply on vacation. He’s engaging in a kind of spiritual retreat. His time away is an invitation to all of us to consider what summer is really meant for: not just recreation, but re-creation. It’s a season for slowing down, making space for silence, and rediscovering the gift of genuine hospitality. So much of the world’s hospitality industry is focused on selling curated experiences, but true rest and hospitality don’t cost a dime. What we really long for in those moments of retreat is not just luxury, but meaning, and meaning is found in encounter. Whether it’s an encounter with nature, with others, or with God Himself, those are the moments that give life its richness.
Hospitality, Pope Leo reminds us, is not just about welcoming others; it’s also about allowing ourselves to be welcomed. That means making room in our hearts for relationship, for community, and for grace. And sometimes, that starts with simply slowing down enough to listen.
Earlier on Sunday, at Mass, the Pope spoke about the importance of silence, something that ties directly into his broader message of rest. Real rest requires more than stepping away from work; it requires stepping away from noise. Pope Leo encouraged the faithful to use the summer months not only to travel or relax, but to truly gather our thoughts. Reflect on your life. Reflect on your loved ones. Reflect on the Lord. Whether through conversation with others or quiet solitude, the goal is the same: to make time sacred again.
Ashley noted that this period of rest shouldn’t be passive. In fact, it can be deeply fruitful. Use it as a time to love more actively. That might mean lending a helping hand, offering a listening ear, or simply being present for someone who needs you. The opportunities to love are everywhere, especially when we slow down enough to notice them.
Love is something every soul craves. And in a culture addicted to speed, distraction, and digital noise, the Pope’s message is a simple but profound counter-offer: turn down the volume, embrace stillness, and rediscover the quiet joys of presence. As Pope Leo enjoys a bit of summer respite in the hills outside Rome, he’s reminding the world that sometimes the most powerful thing we can do is simply pause—rest, listen, and love.