Pope Leo XIV took a hands-on approach to environmental stewardship on September 5, 2025, as he inaugurated the Vatican’s ambitious new green initiative at Castel Gandolfo. In a day that saw him feeding fish in the estate’s pond, petting horses, and strolling through organic vineyards, the pontiff brought to life Pope Francis’ call to action for caring for the planet—turning words into tangible deeds.
The centerpiece of this transformation is Borgo Laudato Si, a sprawling 55-acre “utopian experiment” in sustainable farming, vocational training, and environmental education, according to the Associated Press. Located on the grounds of the papal summer retreat in the rolling hills south of Rome, the project is designed to serve as a model of ecological stewardship, not just for the Catholic Church but for communities worldwide.
Pope Leo XIV’s arrival was itself a nod to modernity and sustainability: he traveled by helicopter to Castel Gandolfo and then zipped around the cypress-lined gardens in an electric golf cart, as reported by Arab News. The new center is named after Pope Francis’ landmark 2015 encyclical, Laudato Si (“Praised Be”), a document that cast care for the planet as an urgent moral concern, deeply entwined with human dignity and justice, especially for the poor. Over the past decade, Laudato Si has inspired a movement within the Church, urging believers to view environmental protection as a core responsibility.
“Care for creation, therefore, represents a true vocation for every human being, a commitment to be carried out within creation itself, without ever forgetting that we are creatures among creatures, and not creators,” Pope Leo XIV declared during the liturgy to bless the new center, echoing the encyclical’s themes. He reminded those present that, according to the Bible, humans are created in the “image and likeness of God”—a privilege that comes with the “great responsibility” of caring for all other creatures, as reported by the AP.
This new chapter in Vatican environmentalism is not just symbolic. Borgo Laudato Si is a functioning, forward-thinking facility. At its heart stands a massive greenhouse, designed in the same curved, embracing shape as the colonnade of St. Peter’s Square. This structure faces a ten-room educational facility and dining hall, setting the stage for a variety of educational activities. Once fully operational, the center will welcome groups ranging from schoolchildren on afternoon field trips to professionals attending weekslong courses on regenerative agriculture.
Solar panels line the rooftops, providing all the power the facility needs. Plastics are banned throughout the grounds, and rigorous recycling and composting systems are in place to achieve zero waste—a goal that few institutions of this size can claim. Water conservation is a top priority as well. The center employs “smart irrigation” systems powered by artificial intelligence to determine exactly when and how much water plants need, maximizing efficiency. Rainwater harvesting and wastewater treatment and reuse systems are also integral parts of the operation, according to Arab News.
The Vatican’s vision extends beyond environmental technology. Borgo Laudato Si is also home to the Vatican’s first-ever vocational school on the estate, aiming to provide on-site training in sustainable gardening, organic winemaking, and olive harvesting. The focus is on empowering vulnerable groups—victims of domestic violence, refugees, recovering addicts, and rehabilitated prisoners—by offering them new skills and opportunities for employment. These efforts reflect the Church’s longstanding tradition of supporting marginalized communities, now paired with a forward-looking ecological mission.
Products made at Borgo Laudato Si—such as Laudato Si wine, organic olive oil, herbal teas from the estate’s aromatic gardens, and cheese from its herd of 60 dairy cows—will be sold on-site. Profits will be reinvested into the educational center, continuing a centuries-old tradition of agricultural production subsidizing monasteries and convents. This self-sustaining model ensures that the project not only teaches environmental responsibility but also practices it in every aspect.
While school groups are a primary audience, the Vatican has its sights set on a broader impact. Organizers plan to invite CEOs and business professionals for executive education seminars, aiming to “sensitize the world of business to the need for sustainable economic growth,” as Arab News put it. The hope is that by engaging decision-makers, the message of ecological responsibility will ripple out into the corporate world, influencing practices far beyond the Vatican’s walls.
Pope Leo XIV, who earlier this summer celebrated the estate’s first-ever “green” Mass using prayers inspired by Laudato Si, has strongly reaffirmed his predecessor’s focus on environmental stewardship. His actions and words reflect a deep commitment to translating theological imperatives into real-world change. “But this privilege comes with a great responsibility: that of caring for all other creatures, in accordance with the creator’s plan,” he told those gathered for the inauguration, reiterating the moral dimension of environmental care.
Despite the transparency in its mission, the Vatican has kept details about the project’s financing closely guarded. Officials say an undisclosed number of partners have invested in Borgo Laudato Si, but confidential business plans preclude any further disclosure. This secrecy has sparked curiosity, but Vatican officials insist that the focus should remain on the project’s educational and spiritual goals rather than its financial underpinnings.
In the broader context of the Catholic Church’s evolving stance on environmental issues, Borgo Laudato Si stands out as a bold step. Pope Francis’ Laudato Si encyclical was a watershed moment, reframing ecological stewardship as a matter of faith and justice. Now, Pope Leo XIV’s initiative takes those principles off the page and into the field—quite literally. The Vatican hopes that this model will inspire similar projects worldwide, demonstrating that faith-based organizations can be powerful catalysts for practical environmental action.
As the sun set over Castel Gandolfo, the day’s activities—feeding fish, petting horses, blessing gardens—served as poignant reminders that caring for creation is not an abstract ideal but a daily practice. For Pope Leo XIV and the Vatican, Borgo Laudato Si is more than a project; it is a living testament to the belief that humanity’s place in the world is not just to enjoy creation, but to nurture and protect it for generations to come.