Pope Leo XIV will travel to Castel Gandolfo on Friday, September 5, to inaugurate a new initiative that brings faith, education, and ecology together. At 4 PM Rome time, the Holy Father will formally open the Borgo Laudato Si’, a village dedicated to living out the vision of Laudato si’, Pope Francis’ encyclical on care for creation. The encyclical, first released ten years ago, continues to guide the Church in recognizing the intimate bond between humanity and the environment.

The Borgo, whose name means “village” in Italian, occupies 135 acres of the papal residence at Castel Gandolfo. It blends villas, gardens, archeological sites, and farmland into a space intended not only for visitors, but for prayer, study, and community life. Entrusted in 2023 to the Laudato Si’ Centre for Higher Education, the project now stands as a visible sign of the Church’s commitment to unite spirituality with the responsibility to safeguard creation and serve the most vulnerable.

In many ways, the Borgo seeks to be a living catechesis: history and tradition paired with a forward-looking dedication to sustainability and Catholic education.

The opening ceremony will begin with a pilgrimage through the Borgo’s grounds. Pope Leo will meet with workers, educators, students, local families, and benefactors, greeting the many people who have shaped this initiative and who will continue to carry it forward. After the procession, he will lead a Liturgy of the Word followed by a Rite of Blessing, marking the Village’s official beginning.

Prayer and music will accompany the day’s events. The world-renowned tenor Andrea Bocelli and his son Matteo will lend their voices in a hymn of thanksgiving before the Holy Father’s blessing. Their participation reflects the spirit of Laudato si’, where art, faith, and gratitude for creation come together in praise of God.

Representatives of the Roman Curia, civic leaders, and numerous collaborators are expected to attend the celebration, recognizing the Borgo as both a local and universal sign of Catholic witness. As the Church marks the tenth anniversary of Laudato si’, Castel Gandolfo’s new Village stands as a reminder that the care of our common home is not an abstract principle but a concrete vocation, rooted in prayer, community, and daily choices of stewardship.