The accident was due to a short circuit caused by a lamp from the 90's Photo: Vatican Media

Fire in Popes’ Pontifical Villa

The mishap occurred due to a short circuit caused by a lamp of the 90’s. The fire spread to the wall and damaged four chairs.

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Valentina di Giorgio 

(ZENIT News / Vatican City, 17.10.2023).-  A small fire broke out in the main building of Castel Gandolfo, Popes’ Pontifical Villa, extraterritorial part of Vatican City, south of Rome.

The fire broke out on Saturday morning, October 7, in the Hall of the Consistory, on the second floor of the main Palace.

The mishap occurred due to a short circuit caused by a lamp of the 90’s. The fire spread to the wall and damaged four chairs, but the smoke spread to a larger area. Fortunately, it did not reach Urban VIII’s adjacent Chapel.

According to the firemen, the roof of the building is in good state.

The Pontifical Villa of Castel Gandolfo was the summer residence of Popes up to Benedict XVI; in 2016 Pope Francis turned it into a Museum.

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ZENIT Staff

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