Pope Leo XIV makes history with Lake Albano boat procession

Pope Leo XIV made history on August 29, 2026, by becoming the first pontiff to participate in a boat procession on Lake Albano. The event took place during the Feast of Our Lady of the Lake near the papal summer residence in Castel Gandolfo, Italy.

Following a Mass at the Church of Maria Santissima del Lago, the Pope joined a procession where a statue of the Virgin Mary was carried to the shore and placed on a vessel named the Falco. The Pope traveled across the volcanic crater lake for approximately 25 minutes, accompanied by a flotilla of civilian boats, canoes, and law enforcement craft. The journey was intended to evoke the biblical story of Jesus appearing to his disciples on the Sea of Galilee.

During his sermon, the Pope focused on themes of love and forgiveness, while also addressing the suffering of Christians globally and praying for those affected by war. The local tradition of the feast was established in 1954 to unite the community around the lake. While previous popes, including Paul VI and John Paul II, have attended the feast, none had previously traveled across the water during the ceremony.