Vatican City: Pope Leo XIV is set to launch a new chapter of ecological awareness and spiritual renewal with the official inauguration of the Borgo Laudato si’ project at Castel Gandolfo this Friday. The initiative, built on 135 acres of papal gardens and farmland overlooking Lake Albano, aims to merge faith, education, and sustainable living in a model open to all regardless of religious affiliation.
Castel Gandolfo, once the secluded summer residence of Popes, has witnessed centuries of history. Originally the villa of Roman Emperor Domitian, the property later became a papal retreat. Now, under Pope Leo XIV, large portions of its grounds will serve as an ecological village where visitors can explore gardens, farmland, Roman ruins, and devotional sites.
Guided tours of an hour will be offered in multiple languages, covering the property’s gardens, organic farm, a new educational centre, a restaurant, and a marketplace selling products such as olive oil, honey, dairy, and farm-fresh goods. Guests will also have the chance to take part in activities such as cheese-making, experiencing firsthand the sustainable ethos of the Borgo.
At the heart of the project lies the Church’s commitment to “integral ecology,” rooted in the encyclical Laudato si’, which calls humanity to care for both the planet and its people. Pope Francis, who first opened Castel Gandolfo to the public in 2023, envisioned it as a training ground for ecological education. Pope Leo XIV is now carrying that vision forward, ensuring the property becomes a living centre of prayer, sustainability, and learning.
The Laudato si’ Centre for Higher Education, a new facility on the premises, will be blessed by Pope Leo XIV during Friday’s inauguration. Once operational, it will host programs on ecological leadership, organic farming, sustainable practices, and environmental spirituality. Specially designed courses will target not only schools, diocesan groups, and parishes but also CEOs and industry leaders seeking to integrate sustainability into business practices.
Visitors will be able to pray at the Madonina statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a site where generations of Popes have sought strength and intercession. Pope Leo XIV himself often walks the gardens for reflection and prayer in the afternoons, after visitors depart an openness that echoes his predecessor Pope Francis’ willingness to share the grounds with the world.
A newly expanded vineyard, developed with an Italian university, has been planted in honour of Pope Francis. The first bottles of wine from this vineyard are expected by 2029, symbolizing a fruitful legacy of ecological stewardship.
Fr. Manuel Dorantes, the project’s management director and a priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago, emphasized that Borgo Laudato si’ is a place for everyone: pilgrims, tourists, school children, university delegations, bishops, priests, and even vulnerable communities. “The goal,” he explained, “is for each visitor to leave with a deeper awareness of our shared responsibility to care for our common home.”
The Papal Palace itself remains reserved for the Holy Father, but the surrounding grounds now serve as a living classroom of ecology and spirituality, offering both beauty and lessons for the future.
With the inauguration of Borgo Laudato si’, Pope Leo XIV is extending the Church’s ecological mission from words to living witness, creating a model that Vatican leaders hope dioceses around the globe will replicate.