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CASTEL GANDOLFO, ITALY - SEPTEMBER 5: Pope Leo XIV inaugurated on Friday, Sept. 5, a major new sustainability project, turning the environmental teachings of his predecessor into a concrete model for ecological stewardship.The Pope formally opened the "Borgo Laudato Si'" (Laudato Si' Village), a 55-hectare utopian experiment in sustainable farming, vocational training, and environmental education. The site is located on the grounds of the ancient Papal Villas at the papal summer retreat in Castel Gandolfo, southeast of Rome.The ambitious initiative was launched by former Pope Francis. It redevelops a significant portion of the historic villas to promote a circular economy and environmental sustainability. The area now incorporates agricultural land, gardens, operational farms, greenhouses, and an advanced education center.In his address during the opening ceremony on Sept. 5, Pope Leo XIV highlighted the project's goal of putting Catholic social teaching on care for creation into practice. The Vatican hopes the center, which will be open to student groups, CEOs, and others, will become a global model of ecological spirituality and education for the Catholic Church and the wider world.The inauguration was marked by a cultural performance from Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli and his son, Matteo Bocelli, who took the stage for a special performance.The Papal Villa in Castel Gandolfo, overlooking Lake Albano about 25 kilometers from Rome, is an expansive complex of buildings and lush gardens.(Footage by Riccardo De Luca /Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)