At the request of Laudato Si’ Higher Educational Centre,  under the presidency of Pope Francis, Professor Laurent Torregrosa, Director of the Vine and Wine Division at the Agro Institute, was invited to join a delegation of European scientists who met at the Vatican from September 19 to 21, 2024 to study the feasibility of establishing an agro-ecological vineyard on the Gardens of Pontifical Villas of  Castel Gandolfo

 Following his 2015 encyclical “Laudato Si” on the preservation of the common home, Pope Francis wanted to reorganize the Gardens of Pontifical Villas of Castel Gandolfo, to set up experimental and training facilities with a strong ecological and social valence in viticulture. To support the reflection, particularly on the levers that can be mobilized in viticulture and winemaking, Pope Francis the Laudato Si’ Higher Educational Centre has set up the Fructu Vinae commission, bringing together eight international scientific experts covering the disciplines of viticulture and oenology.

 The members of this commission were received in private audience in Rome by the Pope, who explained to them the principles of his approach and his expectations. Following this pontifical exchange, the experts spent a day working on an initial assessment of possible options.  Further meetings will be held in the near future to support the implementation of the project.

Contacts :

• Vine & Wine Cluster - Agro Institute : L.aurent Torregrosa - laurent.torregrosa@institut-agro.fr
•  Vatican : Donatella Parisi - comunicazione@caf-ls.va