Pope Leo XIV prays his first Angelus from Castel Gandolfo

Thousands of people attended Pope Leo XIV's first Angelus on Sunday in a festive atmosphere at Castel Gandolfo , near Rome, the papal summer residence that had been out of use for years.

"I am happy to be among you (...) and I thank you all for your warm welcome," the Pope declared, standing in front of the doors of the Apostolic Palace, flanked by two Swiss Guards in full dress uniform.

I am glad to be among you and thank you all for your warm welcome.

His stay was highly anticipated in the town, as it revived a tradition abandoned by his predecessor, Francis, who preferred to remain in the Vatican and transformed the papal residence into a museum.

The Peruvian-American pope arrived on July 6 for a two-week vacation in this small town located about 30 kilometers southeast of Rome, on the shores of Lake Albano, where the papal summer residence is located.

(Read on: What the first two months of Leo XIV have shown )

Despite the rain, thousands of people, both faithful and tourists, filled the streets to catch a glimpse of the leader of the Catholic Church.

A few minutes earlier, Robert Francis Prevost had presided over Mass at the Church of St. Thomas of Villanova and then crossed Liberty Plaza to the cheers of the crowd.

"Let us not forget to pray for peace and for all those who suffer and need help because of war," the Pope concluded.

Let us not forget to pray for peace and for all those who suffer and need help because of the war.

During the Mass, the Pope focused on speaking about compassion for one's neighbor through the parable of the Good Samaritan.

" This story continues to challenge us even today, challenging our lives, shaking the tranquility of our dormant or distracted consciences , and challenging us against the risk of a complacent faith, ordered by the external observance of the law, but incapable of feeling and acting with the same compassionate depths as God," he said.

The Apostolic Palace was built in the 17th century and served as the summer residence of the Popes until 1870 and the fall of the Papal State.

Since the so-called Lateran Pacts of 1929, between the Italian State and the Holy See, it has once again become the property of the Catholic Church.