Pope heads to the hills for summer break

BOLZANO, Italy, July 28 (UPI) -- Pope Benedict XVI will spend the next two weeks in a German-speaking mountain town in northern Italy along with his cat, Milly, and his brother Georg Ratzinger.

The pontiff left Castel Gandolofo Monday for Bressanone where he is expected to draft an encyclical on social issues and work on the second part of a book on Jesus, Italy's ANSA news agency reported.

The Vatican says Benedict will stay at a medieval seminary once used as a stopping-off point for pilgrims crossing the Brenner Pass on their way to Rome.

The seminary boasts a well-stocked library and stunning mountain views, ANSA says.

Benedict visited Bressanone in 1970 when he was a cardinal but this will be his first time there as pope.

He is set to give his customary Sunday address from the town square the next two Sundays.