Holy See signs agreement to use completely renewable energy

Archbishop Gallagher and Ambassador Di Nitto sign agreement. Image: Vatican Media

Source: Vatican Media

The Holy See and Italy have signed an agreement to build a solar energy plant in the Vatican's Santa Maria di Galeria area just outside of Rome, aiming to supply Vatican City State with renewable energy.

A statement from Vatican Radio says the agreement was signed on 31 July at the Italian Embassy to the Holy See, by Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States and International Organisations and Ambassador Francesco Di Nitto represented the Italian Republic.

The agreement, composed of five articles, will enter into force upon the exchange of diplomatic notifications confirming the completion of internal procedures by both parties.

The initiative is being hailed as a tangible expression of the strong bilateral relations between the Holy See and Italy. It reflects a shared commitment to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement, aligning with Pope Francis' call for an "integral ecology" and care for our common home, as articulated in Laudato si'.

The Vatican began using solar energy in November 2008, when Pope Benedict switched on the solar panels installed on the Pope Paul VI Hall yesterday to light and heat the building.

This new agrivoltaic plant, to be installed on Holy See property in Santa Maria di Galeria, aims to provide the entire Vatican City State with renewable electricity while preserving agricultural use of the land.

The project has been carefully designed to respect the natural landscape, minimise environmental impact, protect cultural and archaeological heritage, and maintain the area's hydrogeological balance.