Castel Gandolfo isn’t just the site of the pope’s summer residence, it’s a town filled with people for whom the pope is a neighbor. Meet some of the residents of this unique place and hear their stories about the special connection between the papacy and their beautiful, scenic town in the Alban Hills overlooking Lake Albano.

Hundreds of years ago, Rome hung small, lighted images of the Blessed Virgin Mary to illuminate and add a measure of safety to the city’s dark and often dangerous streets. Today, many of those madonnelli still watch over their respective corners of the Eternal City.