At the Borgo Laudato Si’ in Castel Gandolfo, a dialogue between the Church, science and institutions to care for Creation

Castel Gandolfo, 3 July 2026 – There are places where the value of an initiative transcends the event itself, becoming an experience capable of generating reflection, dialogue and shared responsibility. The Borgo Laudato Si’, in the heart of the Pontifical Villas of Castel Gandolfo, is one such place.

Here, where the beauty of Creation meets spirituality, scientific research and educational commitment, a day of outstanding cultural and institutional significance took place, dedicated to the care of our common home and culminating in the inauguration of the international photography exhibition Uomo – Natura: Equilibri Fragili (Man and Nature: Fragile Balances), promoted by the Italian branch of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, in collaboration with the John Paul II Foundation for Youth, under the patronage of the Embassy of the Principality of Monaco to the Holy See and with the support of the Borgo Laudato Si’, the Fondazione Scudieri, Delta Ingegneria and GIMET.

Following the success of its first showing at the Orto Botanico di Roma, the exhibition has found in the Borgo Laudato Si’ a natural and deeply symbolic setting, within a context that powerfully evokes humanity’s responsibility towards Creation and the need to build a new harmony between development, the environment and human dignity.

Guests were welcomed by His Eminence Cardinal Fabio Baggio, General Director of the Laudato Si’ Centre for Higher Education, who hosted the initiative and opened the doors of a place created to translate the principles of integral ecology into concrete pathways of training, research and dialogue.

The event was attended by representatives of the diplomatic corps, ambassadors, religious authorities, institutions, members of the academic and scientific communities, scholars, professionals and numerous guests united by the conviction that protecting biodiversity and the environment is today one of the great ethical responsibilities of our time.

The event opened with a guided tour of the Borgo Laudato Si’, led by the Centre’s guides, giving participants the opportunity to discover at first hand a project that represents a concrete testimony to the Holy See’s commitment to promoting integral ecology.

The central moment of the day was the conference Caring for Creation: Knowing in Order to Act, an opportunity for high-level discussion that brought into dialogue different yet deeply convergent perspectives: the spiritual, the scientific and the cultural.

Following the institutional greetings by Marco Colasanti, President of the Italian branch of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, and Daniele Bruno, President of the John Paul II Youth Foundation, the event featured a discussion led by His Eminence Cardinal Fabio Baggio, General Director of the Laudato Si’ Centre for Higher Education, Professor Danilo Mollicone, Forestry Officer at the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, and Professor Fabio Attorre, Director of the Orto Botanico di Roma (Sapienza University of Rome). The panel was moderated by journalist Deborah Castellano Lubov of Vatican News - Vatican Radio.

Although the themes were addressed from different perspectives, all the contributions highlighted the same awareness: the environmental crisis cannot be interpreted solely as a scientific or technical issue, but requires renewed cultural, ethical and social responsibility, founded on the understanding that human beings are not separate from nature, but an integral part of a delicate balance on which their own future also depends.

At the end of the conference, the exhibition Uomo – Natura: Equilibri Fragili was inaugurated, bringing together winning photographs of the Foundation’s Environmental Photography Award.

The images on display, taken by photographers from all over the world, do more than document the extraordinary beauty of nature. They tell the story of the deep relationship that connects every form of life, reminding us that biodiversity is the very foundation of the planet’s balance and that every disruption of this harmony inevitably affects humankind.

In his address, Marco Colasanti drew attention to the cultural value of the initiative, emphasising that the exhibition aims not only to stir emotion, but also to promote deeper awareness.

“We are living at a moment in history when understanding is no longer enough. Today, we are called to transform knowledge into responsibility, and responsibility into concrete action. Environmental protection concerns human dignity, quality of life, social justice and the future of younger generations. Only through dialogue between culture, science, institutions and spirituality will it be possible to build an authentic model of development founded on respect for Creation.”

Particularly significant was the appreciation expressed by Cardinal Fabio Baggio, who warmly welcomed the initiative, recognising its full alignment with the educational and cultural mission of the Borgo Laudato Si’, a place where reflection on integral ecology is translated each day into concrete experiences of training and awareness-raising.

Daniele Bruno emphasised that the beauty of Creation “is not an ornament, but a calling; not a privilege, but a duty”, recalling the role of young people as custodians of Creation and protagonists of new lifestyles. In this regard, he noted that the 5th International Conference that the Foundation is organising on the theme of fraternity and courage, to be held during the days of WYD in Seoul, will include a panel specifically dedicated to the care of Creation.

The decision to host this exhibition within the Pontifical Villas therefore carries a meaning that goes far beyond the artistic dimension: it represents the encounter between the universal language of photography, the rigour of scientific research, the responsibility of institutions and the spiritual dimension, reaffirming that care for Creation is a shared responsibility belonging to the entire human community.

The exhibition Uomo – Natura: Equilibri Fragili will be open to visitors at the Borgo Laudato Si’ – Pontifical Gardens of Castel Gandolfo until 30 July 2026, offering them a journey of extraordinary visual and emotional intensity, capable of transforming the beauty of photography into a concrete invitation to reflection and action.

Following the success of the Rome and Castel Gandolfo stages, the project will continue its exhibition tour in other Italian cities, with the aim of promoting a culture of responsibility founded on dialogue between institutions, scientific research, art and spirituality.

More than a photography exhibition, Uomo – Natura: Equilibri Fragili is conceived as a cultural and human journey inviting each of us to rediscover our place within the order of Creation, in the knowledge that only by re-establishing a relationship of authentic harmony with nature will it be possible to guarantee a future of peace, justice and hope for the generations to come.

Practical Information

Exhibition: Uomo – Natura: Equilibri Fragili
Dates: 3 to 30 July 2026
Venue: Borgo Laudato Si’ – Pontifical Gardens of Castel Gandolfo

Visiting hours
Monday–Saturday: 09.00–14.00 (last admission at 13.00)
Sunday: 12.00–18.00 (last admission at 17.00)

Bookings
E-mail: tours@borgolaudatosi.va
Tel. +39 06 698 87835

©Mauro Salvatori