In a groundbreaking move, Vatican City has sealed a deal with Italy to transform a 430-hectare field in Santa Maria Galeria, 35 kilometers north of Rome, into a massive solar farm. This ambitious project aims to make the Vatican the world’s first carbon-neutral state, a historic milestone in its commitment to environmental stewardship.

The agreement, signed by Vatican foreign minister Archbishop Paul Gallagher and Italy’s ambassador Francesco Di Nitto, ensures the solar farm will coexist with the site’s agricultural heritage while minimizing environmental impact. The Vatican will import solar panels tax-free, though it won’t tap into Italy’s solar incentives. Excess electricity will power local communities, boosting the region’s clean energy access. Italy, in turn, can count the project toward its EU clean energy goals.

The Santa Maria Galeria site, long a point of contention due to Vatican Radio’s electromagnetic towers, will now pivot to sustainability. Since the 1950s, the site’s two dozen antennae have broadcast Catholic news globally, but nearby residents raised health concerns, citing childhood leukemia cases linked to electromagnetic waves. Though the Vatican denied causality and was cleared in a 1990s lawsuit, it halved transmissions in 2012, citing technological shifts to internet broadcasting. This solar initiative marks a new chapter for the site.

Also Read: Vatican’s $63M Profit Boosts Pope’s Financial Crisis Fight

Pope Francis, a vocal advocate for climate action, initiated the solar farm vision last year, urging a shift from fossil fuels. Pope Leo XIV, who visited the site in June 2025, has championed this cause, integrating Francis’ ecological legacy into new prayers and readings. The project, estimated at under €100 million ($114 million), awaits Italian parliamentary approval before construction bids can begin.

The solar farm aligns with the Vatican’s broader environmental ethos, reflected in its 2015 encyclical Laudato Si’, which called for urgent climate action. By harnessing solar power, the Vatican aims to meet its energy needs sustainably, setting a global example. Experts estimate the farm could generate surplus energy, potentially powering thousands of homes in the surrounding Lazio region.

Local residents, once wary of the radio towers, have cautiously welcomed the plan. Community leaders hope the project will bring jobs and infrastructure improvements, though some seek assurances that agricultural land will remain productive. The Vatican has pledged to balance energy goals with preserving the area’s rural character.

This initiative underscores Vatican City’s outsized influence despite its small size. Covering just 44 hectares, the state aims to lead by example, proving that even the smallest entities can drive global change. As the world watches, the Vatican’s solar gamble could inspire other nations to accelerate their clean energy transitions.

Also Read: Zelenskyy and Pope Leo XIV Propose Vatican as Venue for Ukraine-Russia Peace Talks