His Holiness Pope Francis Orders Construction of Agrivoltaic Plant For the Vatican
With the Apostolic Letter “Fratello sole,” issued motu proprio, His Holiness Pope Francis provides for the construction of an agrivoltaic plant in the extraterritorial zone of Santa Maria in Galeria, where Vatican Radio maintains antennas for digital broadcasting.
By Christopher Wells
Highlighting the need “to make a transition to a sustainable development model that reduces greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere, setting the goal of climate neutrality,” His Holiness Pope Francis has ordered the construction of an agrivoltaic plant within the extraterritorial zone of Santa Maria di Galeria.
Agrivoltaics involves the dual use of land for solar energy production and agriculture. As the Holy Father explains in the new Apostolic Letter Fratello Sole (“Brother Sun”), “Mankind has the technological means to deal with this environmental transformation and its pernicious ethical, social, economic and political consequences; and among these, solar energy plays a key role.”
Responding to the challenges of climate change
In Fratello Sole, His Holiness Pope Francis roots the decision to embrace solar power in his own invitation "to all mankind," in the encyclical Laudato sí, to make lifestyle changes to counter global warming and the “pervasive” use of fossil fuels.
He goes on to recall the Holy See’s accession, in 2022, to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, signaling the his intention “to contribute to the efforts of all states to offer, in accordance with their respective responsibilities and capacities, an adequate response to the challenges posed to humanity and our common home by climate change.”
Providing energy for Vatican City State
The agrivoltaic plant will make use of the Holy See’s property at Santa Maria di Galeria. Located on the edge of Rome, the 424-hectare site houses the transmission facilities for Vatican Radio, thanks to a 1951 agreement between the Holy See and the Italian State. The new plant is intended to supply the energy needs of Vatican Radio and contribute to “the complete energy sustenance of Vatican City State”…
This report was originally publsihed on the website of Vatican News. Please click here to read the full text.