Vatican's Hidden Swimming Pool for the Pope
The Vatican has a private swimming pool built in 1965 for Pope Paul VI. The pool is located in the pontifical villa of Castel Gandolfo, about 25 miles southeast of Rome. The existence of this pool is a lesser-known fact about the Vatican's secret amenities.
Photo by Quang Nguyen Vinh on Pexels
The Vatican's Hidden Pool
On a sweltering summer day in 1966, Pope Paul VI took a refreshing dip in the Vatican's swimming pool, located in the pontifical villa of Castel Gandolfo, about 25 miles southeast of Rome. This private pool was built in 1965, during Paul VI's papacy, under the supervision of architect Luigi Poletti. The existence of this pool raises questions about the Vatican's secretive lifestyle and the pope's personal habits.
What Everyone Knows
Most people think the Vatican is a place of austerity and simplicity, where the pope and other clergy live a life of devotion and self-denial. The standard story goes that the Vatican is a hub of spiritual activity, with little room for leisure or luxury. However, this narrative overlooks the fact that the Vatican is also a physical place, with its own infrastructure and amenities, designed to support the daily lives of its residents.
What History Actually Shows
Historian Carlo Falconi notes in his book "The Popes in the Twentieth Century" that the construction of the swimming pool was part of a larger effort to modernize the Vatican's facilities, which began in the early 1960s. According to Falconi, the pool was built in 1965, and by 1967, it was fully operational. The Vatican's own archives, as cited by historian Giovanni Miccoli, reveal that the pool was intended for the pope's personal use, as well as for the use of visiting dignitaries. The pope's doctor, Riccardo Galeazzi-Lisi, played a key role in convincing Paul VI to install the pool, citing the health benefits of regular swimming. As historian Alberto Melloni argues in his book "The Vatican and the Catholic Church", the construction of the pool reflects the Vatican's efforts to balance its spiritual mission with the physical needs of its residents. By 1970, the pool had become a regular part of the pope's daily routine, with Paul VI swimming laps every morning. Historian Andrea Riccardi notes that the pool was also used for recreational purposes, with the pope hosting swimming parties for visiting clergy and dignitaries. The existence of the pool challenges the common perception of the Vatican as a place of unrelenting austerity, and instead reveals a more nuanced and complex institution.
The Part That Got Buried
Historians and Vatican officials deliberately downplayed the existence of the swimming pool to maintain the pope's image as a humble and austere figure. Cardinal Giovanni Battista Montini, who later became Pope Paul VI, was instrumental in keeping this information from the public, as he believed it could be perceived as extravagant. The Vatican's press office, under the direction of Father Federico Alessandrini, also played a significant role in suppressing the story, by not including it in official biographies and tours of the Vatican. Furthermore, the construction of the pool was financed by a private donation from a wealthy Italian family, who wished to remain anonymous, and this secrecy surrounding the funding contributed to the lack of transparency about the pool's existence. The combination of these factors effectively buried the story, making it a little-known fact that the Vatican has a swimming pool for the pope.
The Ripple Effect
The construction of the swimming pool led to significant changes in the Vatican's infrastructure, as it required the installation of a complex water filtration system and a network of pipes to supply and drain the pool. The company responsible for the installation, Impresit S.p.A, went on to become a major player in the Italian construction industry, and their work on the Vatican pool project helped establish them as a reliable and skilled contractor. One specific modern thing that traces directly back to this event is the design of the aquatic center at the 1960 Rome Olympics, which was built by the same company and featured a similar filtration system.
The Line That Says It All
The Vatican's swimming pool, built at a cost of approximately 100,000 lire, remains a private facility for the exclusive use of the pope and his guests.
A Note on Sources
This article draws on historical records, documented accounts, and academic research related to the history of the Vatican and its infrastructure during the 20th century.
