Castel Gandolfo: In an unannounced journey to the serene heights of Castel Gandolfo, Pope Leo XIV on Thursday visited the Borgo Laudato Sì, a transformative ecological and educational project founded by Pope Francis on the grounds of the Papal Villas. The visit underscored the continuing commitment of the Holy See to integral ecology and the promotion of environmental awareness as a spiritual and moral imperative.
The Borgo Laudato Sì, often described as the "green heart" of the former papal summer residence, embodies the core themes of Laudato si’, Pope Francis’ groundbreaking encyclical on care for creation. Spanning 20 hectares of farmland, gardens, and historical architecture, the Borgo has been repurposed into a living classroom for sustainable living, ecological education, and social inclusion.
Welcomed by Cardinal Fabio Baggio, Under Secretary of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, and Fr. Manuel Dorantes, director of the Borgo project, Pope Leo took time to reflect in the Garden of the Virgin Mary before continuing his tour through the Belvedere Gardens and the ancient Cryptoporticus, once part of the Roman Emperor Domitian’s audience halls. These contemplative stops served as both spiritual pause and historical remembrance.
The Pope also honored the memory of Pope Pius XII, praising his “brave and humane decision” to shelter more than 12,000 civilians at Castel Gandolfo in 1944, during the Nazi bombings of the Castelli Romani region. This reflection connected the papal residence's legacy of refuge with its new mission of ecological and human care.
His Holiness then visited the Apostolic Palace, now a public museum since its 2016 conversion by Pope Francis, and the historic Villa Barberini, marking a full circle of both papal tradition and evolving service to the world.
Established officially in 2023, the Borgo Laudato Sì aims to give life to the spirit of ecological conversion called for in the encyclical. With the help of scholars in botany, biology, and environmental ethics, it offers not only ecological education but also vocational training in fields like gardening and green space management. The space welcomes a wide range of visitors—from schoolchildren and university students to marginalized groups, including refugees, women escaping violence, people with disabilities, and those recovering from incarceration or substance abuse.
As the inauguration of the Borgo approaches, Pope Leo XIV’s visit affirms a deep continuity between pontificates and a shared vision of a Church not only speaking about justice and sustainability but living it through action. The message from Castel Gandolfo is clear: the earth is our common home, and its care is not a project of the past—but a mission for the future.