The Holy See and the Republic of Italy have taken a major step toward sustainable energy and environmental stewardship by signing an agreement to construct an agrivoltaic plant on Vatican-owned land in Santa Maria di Galeria, near Rome. The project embodies Pope Francis’ call for “integral ecology” and care for creation, as outlined in his 2015 encyclical Laudato si’ (Vatican News).
The agreement was formalized on 31 July 2025 at the Italian Embassy to the Holy See. Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States and International Organisations, signed on behalf of the Holy See, while Ambassador Francesco Di Nitto signed for the Italian Republic. According to the Vatican, the pact is composed of five articles and will take effect once both governments complete internal procedures and exchange official notifications.
A Tangible Step for Creation Care
Church leaders are hailing the project as “a tangible expression of the strong bilateral relations between the Holy See and Italy” and a concrete response to international climate goals under the Paris Agreement and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
The agrivoltaic system—solar panels designed to allow simultaneous agricultural use of the land—will provide Vatican City State with renewable electricity while preserving farming operations. The layout has been carefully planned to respect the natural landscape, minimize environmental impact, protect cultural and archaeological heritage, and maintain the area’s hydrogeological balance.
Towards Carbon Neutrality
This project is part of a broader Vatican effort to achieve carbon neutrality and align with Pope Francis’ teachings on ecological conversion. In his 2024 Apostolic Letter Fratello Sole, Pope Francis emphasized that “there is a need to make a transition to a sustainable development model that reduces greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere, establishing the goal of climate neutrality”.
By producing renewable electricity while safeguarding agricultural heritage, the Holy See demonstrates a living witness to Catholic teaching on the care of creation—transforming Pope Francis’ vision of an integral ecology into concrete action.
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