Castel Gandolfo: In an unannounced and deeply symbolic journey, Pope Leo XIV traveled to the lush hilltop town of Castel Gandolfo, where he spent time at the Borgo Laudato Sì a living legacy of his predecessor Pope Francis, and a beacon of environmental education and healing. The visit was a personal homage to the ongoing mission of “integral ecology” that continues to shape the Church’s response to the global ecological crisis.
The Borgo Laudato Sì, nestled within the serene confines of the Papal Villas, is no ordinary garden. Once a quiet papal retreat, this sacred ground has been transformed into an ecological sanctuary and training hub—where theology, environmental science, and social justice intersect in the spirit of Laudato Sì, the landmark 2015 encyclical by Pope Francis on the care of our common home.
In 2023, Pope Francis inaugurated this project through two formal papal documents, or chirographs, aiming to translate his vision into practical action. He envisioned a place where ecological values could be taught, cultivated, and lived especially among those often left at society’s margins.
Now flourishing with more than 20 hectares of cultivated farmland, greenhouses, and learning facilities, the Borgo stands as a testament to that vision. It not only trains aspiring gardeners and green space caretakers, but also welcomes scholars, schoolchildren, and those whose lives have been scarred by hardship migrants, disabled individuals, survivors of domestic violence, former prisoners, and people recovering from addiction. These participants are not just guests; they are co-creators of a more sustainable and compassionate future.
Pope Leo XIV’s visit included a quiet moment in the Apostolic Palace, which Pope Francis had converted into a public museum in 2016, opening to the world a space once reserved for popes alone. The Holy Father’s presence in the Borgo reflected more than ceremonial solidarity; it underscored the Church’s enduring commitment to ecological conversion and human dignity.
“Caring for creation is not a choice it is a responsibility,” Pope Leo is reported to have said during the visit, according to sources close to the Vatican. “And this sacred village stands as a living catechesis, teaching us how faith, science, and mercy can coexist in harmony with the Earth.”
The Borgo Laudato Sì is more than a center it is a call to action. It represents a new model of Church engagement with the ecological crisis, rooted in compassion, inclusion, and sustainability. Through Pope Leo XIV’s pilgrimage, that call reverberates anew: that our planet, bruised and burdened, can still be healed through collective care, prophetic witness, and the unwavering hope that defines Christian mission.