Volkswacht Bodensee - Leo XIV inaugurates eco training centre near Rome

The Vatican-run centre, located in the papal residence next to Lake Albano southeast of Rome, boasts farming land, a nursery, vineyards, olive groves, a solar-panelled greenhouse and over 300 types of plants stretched over 55 hectares (136 acres).

The late Pope Francis launched the project in 2023, offering courses to vulnerable groups such as refugees, migrants, people with disabilities, former prisoners, victims of domestic abuse and unemployed people.

Christened 'Borgo Laudato Si' ('Praise Be to You Village') after an eponymous papal letter written by Francis, the centre links caring for the environment with social justice issues.

Pope Leo toured the centre on Friday, feeding fish and other animals along the way before presiding over a liturgical celebration.

Borgo Laudato Si is "a synthesis of extraordinary beauty, where spirituality, nature, history, art, work, and technology are meant to coexist in harmony", he said.

The American pontiff has already performed an outdoor mass at the village in July.

The zero-waste centre will compost food, re-use water supplies, and produce some foodstuffs, reinvesting all profits into the project.

K.Hofmann--VB