Latest news with #PraisedBe
Nahar Net
11-07-2025
- General
- Nahar Net
Pope prays for world to recognize urgency of climate crisis
by Naharnet Newsdesk 09 July 2025, 15:57 Pope Leo XIV prayed Wednesday for the world to recognize the urgency of the climate crisis and "hear the cry of the poor," as he celebrated the first papal Mass using a new set of prayers and readings inspired by Pope Francis' environmental legacy. The Mass, in the gardens of the Vatican's new ecological educational center at the papal summer estate in Castel Gandolfo, indicated a strong line of ecological continuity with Francis, who made environmental protection a hallmark of his pontificate. Wearing flowing green vestments, Leo presided at the liturgy in front of a statue of the Madonna and at the foot of a reflecting pool, immersed in the lush green gardens on an unusually cool summer day. He said the world needed to change its mindset about the planet and what is causing "the world to burn." "We must pray for the conversion of so many people, inside and out of the church, who still don't recognize the urgency of caring for our common home," he said. "We see so many natural disasters in the world, nearly every day and in so many countries, that are in part caused by the excesses of being human, with our lifestyle." An encyclical inspires a movement The private Mass was celebrated for about 50 staffers of the Laudato Si center, named for Francis' 2015 environmental encyclical Praised Be (Laudato Si in Latin), in which the first pope from the Global South blasted the way wealthy countries and multinational corporations had exploited the Earth and its most vulnerable people for profit. Leo approved the new Mass formula "for the care of creation," directing it to be added to the list of 49 Masses that have been developed over centuries for a specific need or occasion. Officials said it was crafted in response to requests stemming from Francis' encyclical, which in its 10 years has inspired a whole church movement and foundation to educate, advocate and sensitize the world to the biblically mandated call to care for nature. Leo, history's first American pope, has indicated he intends to further Francis' ecological legacy. A longtime missionary in Peru, Leo experienced firsthand the effects of climate change on vulnerable communities and has already spoken out about the need for climate justice for Indigenous peoples, in particular. In a message for the church's annual day of prayer for creation, Leo blasted the "injustice, violations of international law and the rights of peoples, grave inequalities and the greed that fuels them are spawning deforestation, pollution and the loss of biodiversity." He made no equivocations about what or who was to blame, identifying "climate change provoked by human activity." A Mass in nature's cathedral Leo celebrated the Mass during the first days of his vacation at Castel Gandolfo, a hilltop town overlooking Lake Alban in the cool hills south of Rome. He arrived on Sunday and will spend an initial two weeks there before returning to the Vatican and then heading back in August. He told those gathered that they were celebrating Mass in "what we might call a natural cathedral," surrounded by plants, flowers and nature. He said humanity's mission is the same as Christ's: to protect creation and bring peace and reconciliation in the world. "We hear the cry of the earth, we hear the cry of the poor, because this cry has reached the heart of God," he said. "Our indignation is his, our work is his." Archbishop Vittorio Viola, a Vatican official who helped craft the new liturgy formula, said the celebration Wednesday in the gardens was "ideal" given both its natural and symbolic significance. "The intuition that Pope Francis had was to think about this place as a sort of Laudato Si laboratory, a place that isn't about a superficial ecology, but provides a theological understanding of creation that then becomes action," he said. A carbon-neutral Vatican In another sign of his environmental commitment, Leo has indicated he plans to execute one of Francis' most important ecological legacies: The development of a 430-hectare (1063-acre) field in northern Rome into a solar farm that would generate enough electricity to meet the Vatican's needs and thus make Vatican City the world's first carbon-neutral state. The development would require an investment of just under 100 million euros (about $117 million), officials say, and needs the approval of the Italian parliament since the territory enjoys extraterritorial status that needs to be extended. Last year, Francis tasked a commission of Vatican officials with developing the Santa Maria di Galeria site, which was long the source of controversy because of electromagnetic waves emitted by Vatican Radio towers there. Leo visited the site in June and called it a "wonderful opportunity." He told RAI state television that the creation of such a farm would set "a very important example: we are all aware of the effects of climate change, and we really need to take care of the whole of creation, as Pope Francis has taught so clearly."
Euronews
08-07-2025
- Euronews
Follow Pope Leo to this lakeside retreat just 45 minutes from Rome
The town of Castel Gandolfo sits high on the edge of a volcanic crater lake just 25 kilometres from Rome. Its villas, palaces and grand churches are a testament to its long-standing use as a summer retreat for the popes of the Catholic Church. While Pope Francis stayed away during his 12-year pontificate, the newly elected Pope Leo XIV has revived the tradition, arriving in the town this week to start a six-week holiday. Visitors to Rome can follow in his footsteps to find cooler climes, monumental architecture and stunning lake scenery. See inside the popes' summer residence The area around Lake Albano has been a favourite getaway for Roman rulers since the time of the Emperor Domitian in the first century. In the 17th century, it became the favoured summer retreat of the Vatican leaders. Pope Urban VIII built the papal palace in Castel Gandolfo in 1624, and it was enlarged over succeeding pontificates to its present size of 55 hectares - bigger than Vatican City itself. Past popes used it regularly in summer, drawing huge crowds of pilgrims who would come on Sundays to hear his noon blessing delivered in the inner courtyard of the palace. When Pope Francis decided to remain in Rome in the summer, the town suffered an initial economic hit from the decision. But then the pontiff turned the papal palace and gardens into a year-round museum, open to the public, which now brings a steady flow of tourists to Castel Gandolfo. Inside, visitors can walk through various chambers, including a courtroom, a room for the Swiss Guard and the throne room, all housing artworks and ornate furniture. On the grounds are a working farm, manicured gardens, an observatory run by Jesuit astronomers and, more recently, an environmental educational centre inspired by Francis' 2015 encyclical, Laudato Si (Praised Be). Churches, coffee stops and lake views: What to do in Castel Gandolfo There is plenty to do in Castel Gandolfo beyond visiting the papal residence. It has been voted one of Italy's 'most beautiful villages', so even just strolling through the steep streets is a pleasure. With its lofty hillside position, the town also affords splendid views over the cobalt waters of Lake Albano. The papal palace is located on Piazza della Libertà, Castel Gandolfo's main square. Here, you can visit the Church of San Tommaso da Villanova, designed by the great Roman baroque architect Gian Lorenzo Bernini. Stop for coffee in the bars around the square and take a moment to write a postcard so that you can send it from what is thought to be the world's first postbox, a brass slot on the wall of the town hall. To cool off, head down to the road that runs along the lake. You'll find restaurants and bars on one side and beach clubs on the other. You can also rent a bike to explore more of the surrounding area or rent a boat or a kayak on the lake. Trains to Castel Gandolfo run almost every hour from Roma Termini station on the Castelli Romani line and take around 45 minutes.
Nahar Net
29-05-2025
- Business
- Nahar Net
New Pope visits Vatican's hilltop summer residence that Francis turned into museum
by Naharnet Newsdesk 29 May 2025, 15:41 Pope Leo XIV visited the papal summer palace south of Rome on Thursday as questions swirled whether he will use it himself to escape the heat or follow in Pope Francis' footsteps and keep the hilltop estate as a museum and environmental center. Leo paid a visit to the Borgo Laudato Si, an educational sustainability project that grew out of Francis' 2015 environmental encyclical "Praised Be," the Vatican said. The center is located in the gardens of the Vatican's Castel Gandolfo property on Lake Alban in the hills south of Rome. Pope Urban VIII built the palace on the northern end of town in 1624, to give popes an escape from the sweltering Roman summers. It was enlarged over succeeding pontificates to its present size of 55 hectares (136 acres), which is actually bigger than Vatican City itself. Popes past used it regularly in summer, and Pope Benedict XVI famously closed out his papacy in the estate on Feb. 28, 2013. But Francis, a homebody who never took a proper vacation during his 12-year pontificate, decided to remain in Rome in summer. In 2014 he decided to open Castel Gandolfo's gardens to the public, and later turned part of the palazzo itself into a museum, in part to help offset the economic downturn the town experienced with no popes holding weekly Sunday prayers there in summer. Leo, a former missionary priest who spent the bulk of his priesthood in Peru, hasn't said where he will live full-time in Rome, much less whether he will use the palace as a summer getaway. The sustainability project, which is open to the public, has taken over operations of the working farm in the gardens of the estate, which includes 20 hectares (50 acres) of agricultural and farming land, greenhouses and service buildings. The farm, which provides dairy and fresh produce to the Vatican, aims to create a "circular economy" in keeping with the call of Francis' encyclical to better care for God's creation.
29-05-2025
Pope Leo XIV visits a hilltop summer residence that Francis turned into museum
ROME -- Pope Leo XIV visited the papal summer palace south of Rome on Thursday as questions swirled whether he will use it himself to escape the heat or follow in Pope Francis' footsteps and keep the hilltop estate as a museum and environmental center. Leo paid a visit to the Borgo Laudato Si, an educational sustainability project that grew out of Francis' 2015 environmental encyclical 'Praised Be,' the Vatican said. The center is located in the gardens of the Vatican's Castel Gandolfo property on Lake Alban in the hills south of Rome. Pope Urban VIII built the palace on the northern end of town in 1624, to give popes an escape from the sweltering Roman summers. It was enlarged over succeeding pontificates to its present size of 55 hectares (136 acres), which is actually bigger than Vatican City itself. Popes past used it regularly in summer, and Pope Benedict XVI famously closed out his papacy there on Feb. 28, 2013. But Francis, a homebody who never took a proper vacation during his 12-year pontificate, decided to remain in Rome in summer. In 2014 he decided to open Castel Gandolfo's gardens to the public, and later turned part of the palazzo itself into a museum, in part to help offset the economic downturn the town experienced with no popes holding weekly Sunday prayers there in summer. Leo, a former missionary priest who spent the bulk of his priesthood in Peru, hasn't said where he will live full-time in Rome, much less whether he will use the palace as a summer getaway. ___
Toronto Star
29-05-2025
- General
- Toronto Star
Pope Leo XIV visits Vatican's hilltop summer residence that Francis turned into museum
ROME (AP) — Pope Leo XIV visited the papal summer palace south of Rome on Thursday as questions swirled whether he will use it himself to escape the heat or follow in Pope Francis' footsteps and keep the hilltop estate as a museum and environmental center. Leo paid a visit to the Borgo Laudato Si, an educational sustainability project that grew out of Francis' 2015 environmental encyclical 'Praised Be,' the Vatican said. The center is located in the gardens of the Vatican's Castel Gandolfo property on Lake Alban in the hills south of Rome.
