CNS PHOTO | PAUL HARING Pope Benedict XVI's name is inscribed in Latin over the doorway in the papal villa at Castel Gandolfo, Italy, in this photo taken in February.

Unlike many of his predecessors since the early 1600s, Pope Francis has decided not to spend the summer months at the papal villa in Castel Gandolfo south of Rome, although he will observe a reduced schedule in July and August.

Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, Vatican spokesman, told reporters June 6 that Pope Francis has decided that for the summer he will be "based at the Domus Sanctae Marthae," the Vatican guesthouse where he has lived since his election in March.

However, Pope Francis will travel to Castel Gandolfo, 25 km south of Rome, July 14 to lead the midday recitation of the Angelus.

Lombardi did not say why Pope Francis had decided not to go move to Castel Gandolfo for the summer, although he noted that when he was the archbishop of Buenos Aires, the former Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio did not go away for his summer holidays.

As for other details of the pope's summer schedule, Father Lombardi said Pope Francis does not plan to hold any private or special audiences between July 8 and Sept. 1.

Also, his early morning Masses with Vatican employees will be suspended during that period.