Vatican City and Italy finalize energy-saving deal for green power
Holy See and Italy Sign Agreement for Sustainable Energy Project
In a significant step towards sustainable development and climate action, the Holy See and Italy have signed a bilateral agreement on July 31, 2025, to construct an agrivoltaic system in Santa Maria di Galeria. This project will make the Vatican City State the first to supply electricity generated from renewable sources.
The agreement, signed by Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher for the Holy See and Ambassador Francesco Di Nitto for Italy, extends benefits from the 1929 Lateran Treaty to the production of renewable electricity. Any surplus clean energy produced by the facility will benefit the Italian Republic, including for social purposes.
The project aligns with both parties’ commitments to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement. It reflects Pope Francis’ environmental vision articulated in his encyclical Laudato si’, emphasizing care for “our common home” and promoting integral ecology.
The design of the agrivoltaic plant respects the natural landscape, minimizes environmental impact, protects cultural and archaeological heritage, and preserves the area's hydrogeological balance. Construction in Santa Maria di Galeria should preserve the agricultural character of the site.
Santa Maria di Galeria, an extraterritorial area of the Holy See near Rome, is known for its historical broadcasting center of Vatican Radio. The facility will supply electricity to the Vatican, and any surplus energy will be used by Italy.
The document, a testament to the strong relations between the Holy See and Italy, updates existing agreements in light of new scientific and technological possibilities in renewable energy. The project emphasizes careful environmental stewardship, with local hydrological balance and environmental impact during construction to be maintained.
The agreement will enter into force after both parties complete their internal procedures and notify each other. This new cooperation between Italy and the Holy See highlights their increasingly close bilateral relations and shared goals for sustainable development and climate action. The project, strongly supported by Pope Francis and confirmed by Pope Leo XIV, represents a significant step toward the Vatican becoming the first country to produce 100% clean energy.
[1] Vatican Press Release, July 31, 2025. [2] Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, July 31, 2025. [3] United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, 1992. [4] Paris Agreement, 2015.
- The agrivoltaic system in Santa Maria di Galeria, a result of the agreement between the Holy See and Italy, is a testament to the intersection of science, climate-change mitigation, and industry, as it promotes the production of renewable energy.
- Their collaboration on this project aligns with the environmental-science principles articulated in Pope Francis' encyclical Laudato si', and the shared goal is to find financial solutions (finance) that support the transition to clean energy sources (energy), thus addressing climate change.
- The focus on careful environmental stewardship during the project's construction is not only an energy-related concern but also an integral part of the overall strategy to preserve the environment and protect cultural heritage.
