By the Apostolic Letter in the form of a Motu Proprio “Fratello Sole”, dated 21 June 2024, my venerable predecessor Pope Francis, having considered that “There is a need to make a transition to a sustainable development model …”, entrusted to the President of the Governorate of Vatican City State and to the President of the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See “the task of constructing an agrivoltaic plant located within the extraterritorial zone of Santa Maria di Galeria that will guarantee, not only the power supply of the radio station there, but also the complete energy sustenance of Vatican City State”. In order to carry out this task by the same Motu Proprio the President of the Governorate of Vatican City State and the President of the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See were appointed “Extraordinary Commissioners with full capacity to carry out the necessary acts of ordinary and extraordinary administration”.

Taking into account the aforementioned Motu Proprio and the subsequent agreement signed with the Italian authorities on 31 July 2025, which came into force on 27 May 2026, I believe it is necessary to act promptly to give tangible expression to this commitment; to this end, I am establishing the “Fratello Sole” Foundation.

The Foundation represents a sign of hope for the future and an example of how it is possible to reconcile energy production and agriculture while respecting and protecting the environment, in accordance with the principles of environmental sustainability and care for our common home contained in the Encyclical Laudato si’, the Apostolic Exhortation Laudate Deum, the Motu Proprio “Fratello Sole” and, more generally, in the social Magisterium of the Church.

The Foundation has its registered office in the Vatican City State and operates fully within the extraterritorial area of Santa Maria di Galeria. I hereby establish that this body shall be governed by its own Statutes, which I simultaneously approve and which are hereby promulgated. For the first three-year period, I appoint the President of the Governorate of Vatican City State and the President of the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See as President and Vice-President respectively, conferring upon the two aforementioned individuals the powers provided for in the Statutes.

From the Vatican, on 1 June 2026, the second year of my Pontificate.

LEO PP. XIV