A fire has damaged part of the Apostolic Palace in the small town of Castel Gandolfo where both Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI lived.
The extent of the fire has not been specificed, although it does not appear to have caused major damage. In fact, tours of the palace can still be booked on the Vatican Museums website.
According to Italian media, the fire broke out a few days ago and the cause seems to be a short circuit in the air conditioning system.
The Apostolic Palace is commonly known as the summer residence of the popes. Popes Paul VI and Pius XII died here and during World War II, it welcomed dozens of Jews escaping Nazi persecution. In 2016, Pope Francis converted it into a museum and opened it to the public.
KG/CA
