What does the pope do during his ‘staycation’?

The guy hasn’t gone on hiatus since the ’70s. So how does he spend his time?

Some answers from Vatican Insider:

The Pontiff has always preferred to spend his summer vacation without leaving his usual residence and his city; slowing down the pace of daily work without leaving home.

The Bergoglio family did not take vacations: “We were not rich. Normally we made it to the end of the month but not much more. We did not own a car, we did not go on vacations or things like that”, the Pope said. Indeed, Jorge Mario’s father wanted his son to find work during the school break. He first worked in a sock factory, initially as janitor. In his third year, he was entrusted with a few administrative tasks. Over the next few years he studied and worked in a chemistry lab at the same time. The decision not to take vacations is therefore a result of habits developed during childhood and later as a young man.

Francesco talked about his vacations on a return flight from Korea in 2014: “I have taken my vacation, just now, at home, as I usually do, because…once I read an interesting book, entitled: ’Be Glad. You’re Neurotic’! I have my own little neuroses…One of these neuroses is that I am a bit too attached to my habitat. The last time I took a vacation outside of Buenos Aires, with the Jesuit community, was in 1975. I do always take a vacation – really – but in my habitat; I change pace. I sleep more; I read the things I want; I listen to music; I spend more time praying…And this makes me relax.”

Read it all.