From electrosmog to photovoltaics: how the Vatican is going green

The installation of solar panels on Vatican-owned land to the north of the capital follows the photovoltaic glazing of the Cortile delle Corazze and the Vignaccia warehouse of the Vatican Museums (350 kilowatts peak for a total production of 500 megawatt hours) and the 5,000 square metre roof of the Nervi Hall (2,394 modules with a total power of 220 kW, enough to meet the annual needs of 100 households);It avoids the production of 47.5 tonnes of carbon dioxide,' says Vatican Governor Sister Raffaella Petrini. Within the Leonine walls, in collaboration with Acea, there is a district heating network and about twenty charging stations for electric cars. "The ecological conversion concerns the Church because man lives in the environment and caring for creation means defending creatures," observes Father Enzo Fortunato.

The papal mandate is clear: "Nothing that exists in this area should be lost." From electrosmog to agrivoltaics, a system that combines renewable electricity production with the needs of the agricultural land below. 424 hectares benefit from the extraterritoriality from which the antennas of Vatican Radio have been broadcasting the papal magisterium to the remotest corners of the globe for three quarters of a century. Where the centre that transmits the voice of the Popes stands, the Holy See's 'green' revolution is underway. The government is awaiting updates on the 'reorganisation of facilities in the area'. The 'green' revolution initiated by Francis and accelerated by Leo XIV will make the Vatican the world's first zero-emissions state within a year.

During a visit to Ponte Galeria three weeks ago, Leo XIV said: "The photovoltaic project will make an important ecological contribution. The agreement with the Italian government needs to be finalised. In the face of climate change, we must take care of creation." Cardinal Mario Gambetti, the Vatican Vicar who has just presented the Eco Basilica , explains : "Climate neutrality requires energy efficiency, technological upgrading and reforestation.The mega-agrivoltaic plant is being built in the extraterritorial area of Santa Maria di Galeria, about ten kilometres from Rome, and will supply not only the Vatican Radio station, which has been operating since the post-war period, but also the entire energy needs of the Apostolic See, which will therefore be entirely powered by solar energy. This operation also frees the Holy See from a long-standing image problem caused by electromagnetic pollution and its effects on health, which for decades has led to petitions from residents, expert reports and legal proceedings. Since 2012, through 'alternative means and new technologies' (web, satellite channels, podcasts), wave emissions and energy consumption have been reduced.

The renovation of Ponte Galeria has freed up space and resources, so the construction of the maxi-project has been entrusted to the Governorate and APSA, while authorisations to feed the energy produced into the Italian grid are being finalised with the Italian authorities. The government confirmed its full cooperation at the last bilateral meeting with the Holy See. In the immediate term, the Vatican's energy bill will not be reduced, the initial investment will take years to pay for itself, but, as Pope Bergoglio pointed out, the real value of the initiative is 'raising awareness of the need to change our lifestyles, production and consumption' in order to 'combat global warming, one of the main causes of which is the widespread use of fossil fuels'. Committed to reducing polluting emissions, the Holy See has signed the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.

The photovoltaic plant under construction will enable the transition to a "sustainable development model that reduces greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere towards climate neutrality. Mankind has the technological means to tackle this environmental transformation and its damaging ethical, social, economic and political consequences, and solar energy has a fundamental role to play in this".