Pope Leo XIV inaugurates ecological Laudato Si’ Village in Castel Gandolfo

Pope Leo XIV on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025, officially inaugurated the Laudato Si’ Village in Castel Gandolfo with a liturgical celebration highlighting the “vocation” of every person to care for creation, including a performance by Andrea Bocelli. / Credit: Vatican Media Rome Newsroom, Sep 5, 2025 / 16:06 pm (CNA). Pope Leo XIV on Friday afternoon officially inaugurated the Laudato Si’ Village in Castel Gandolfo with a liturgical celebration highlighting the “vocation” of every person to care for creation. Before celebrating a special Liturgy of the Word in a greenhouse complex, the Holy Father toured the estate in a golf buggy and stopped to greet staff and students collaborating on the environmental project inspired by Pope Francis’ 2015 encyclical Laudato Si’.Italian singer Andrea Bocelli, who was among the guests invited to the inauguration of the Laudato Si' Village in Castel Gandolfo on Sept. 5, 2025, offers the Holy Father a song to mark the occasion. Credit: Vatican MediaIn his reflection on St. Matthew’s Gospel, the Holy Father said each human person has the great responsibility and privilege of respecting the “Creator’s plan.”“Jesus emphasizes the special place reserved, in the creative act, for the human being: the most beautiful creature, made in the image and likeness of God,” Leo said in his short homily. Pope Leo XIV inaugurated Borgo Laudato si’ Friday afternoon. The Holy Father said the village “presents itself as one of the Church’s initiatives aimed at realizing this ‘vocation to be guardians of God’s work.’” pic.twitter.com/CZyersGm1Q— EWTN Vatican (@EWTNVatican) September 5, 2025 “The care of creation, therefore, represents a true vocation for every human being, a commitment to be carried out within creation itself, without ever forgetting that we are creatures among creatures, not creators,” he added.Speaking about his predecessor Pope Francis — who initiated the project and the liturgy for the Mass for the Care of Creation — Leo said the village is a “seed of hope” for those committed to fostering humanity’s “ecological conversion” through education and catechesis.“It is important, as my predecessor wrote, to ‘recover a serene harmony with creation, to reflect on our lifestyle and our ideals, to contemplate the Creator, who lives among us and in all that surrounds us,’” Leo said, quoting Francis’ 2015 encyclical letter.Andrea Bocelli plays the flute for Pope Leo XIV and guests on the occassion of the official inauguration of the Laudato Si' Village in Castel Gandolfo on Sept, 5, 2025. Credit: Vatican Media“The Laudato Si’ Village, which we inaugurate today, is one of the Church’s initiatives aimed at realizing this ‘vocation to be custodians of God’s handiwork,’” he said.The ecological complex includes state-of-the-art insulation, photovoltaic, and circular water management systems as well as spaces for educational activities for students.At the end of the liturgy, Pope Leo blessed the village with holy water and all those present at the liturgy.Italian singer Andrea Bocelli and his son Matteo, who were among the guests invited to the celebration, offered the Holy Father a song to mark the occasion.