Will Vatican City run on solar power?

A letter entitled ‘Brother Sun’ laid out the pontiff’s plans. Pope Francis has renewables on his mind as he says he wants Vatican City to run on solar power. To achieve his aim, solar panels will be installed on a Vatican-owned property outside Rome. The power generated could supply all of Vatican City's energy needs.

Why does the Vatican have a solar system?

The Vatican’s solar shift is a culmination of a political and spiritual mission years in the making. In 2024, the late Pope Francis issued an apostolic letter ordering the construction of an agrivoltaic solar plant to supply the Vatican with energy from Santa Maria di Galeria. On the same site, the new solar infrastructure now stands.

Will Vatican City become a fully solar-powered state in 2025?

By May 29th, 2025, that vision was fulfilled, and the Vatican City became one of the only fully solar-powered states in the world, setting a clear precedent on how belief and sustainability can align.

Why did Acea install a solar energy system in Vatican City?

This project was carried out by ACEA, an Italian utility company, which installed systems to meet all of the Vatican’s energy demands. What makes this significant is not the size, but that Vatican City is only 0.49km², and there was no loud campaign, no press tour, just action set in stone and implemented.

What did Pope Francis say about solar power?

“Fratello sole” or “Brother Sun” was Pope Francis’ Apostolic Letter that detailed how solar power is an invitation for people around the world to make lifestyle changes to counter global warming and the “pervasive” use of fossil fuels.

Where are solar panels located in Rome?

Sometimes the solar arrays are situated on top of greenhouses, interwoven among crops, or elevated plants. Where is the Vatican’s solar installation located? The agrivoltaic plant is situated on the Holy See’s property at Santa Maria di Galeria on the outskirts of Rome.