At Castel Gandolfo, Pope Leo XIV inaugurated Borgo Laudato si’, a new initiative uniting faith, education, and sustainability in a living witness to the Church’s commitment to care for our common home.
Describing the project as a “seed of hope” and a model for ecological conversion, the Holy Father emphasized that this village is meant to inspire a deeper spiritual and practical response to today’s ecological crisis. “Care for creation is truly a vocation for every human being. We are creatures among creatures, entrusted with the responsibility to care for all that the Creator has made,” Pope Leo XIV said, according to Vatican News.
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A Living Laboratory of Faith and Sustainability
The Borgo Laudato si’ was first envisioned by Pope Francis as a place where spirituality, education, art, and sustainable innovation come together. Pope Leo XIV highlighted that the village is intended to be a “living laboratory” where faith and daily life coexist in harmony. “What we see today is a synthesis of extraordinary beauty, where spirituality, daily life, and technology dwell together in harmony,” he said, calling it “a place of closeness and convivial proximity, and a seed that can bear fruits of justice and peace” (Vatican News).
During his visit, the Pope greeted workers and their families, blessed animals, and reflected on the dignity of labor and the gift of creation. He paused in the historic Little Madonna Garden, where he once celebrated Mass for the Custody of Creation, reminding the faithful to “reflect on lifestyles and greater responsibility in caring for our common home” (Vatican News).
Prayer for Creation
The day concluded with a Liturgy of the Word in the Borgo’s greenhouse, a net-zero energy structure that will host educational initiatives on ecology. Pope Leo XIV’s homily drew from Matthew’s Gospel, inviting the faithful to “look at the birds of the sky” and “observe the lilies of the field,” reminding all that every creature is “good” and has its place in God’s plan.
The liturgy ended with a prayer asking God to “awaken gratitude for every creature, enlighten leaders to promote the common good, and strengthen humanity’s resolve to protect life and prepare a Kingdom of justice, peace, love, and beauty” (Vatican News).
Borgo Laudato si’ now stands as a living witness that the call to care for creation is not just a program but a mission rooted in the Gospel, one that begins with conversion of heart.
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