Reverend Joseph E. Kurtz, D.D. Bishop | Archdiocese of Louisville

Pope Francis has appointed Father Manuel Dorantes, a priest from the Archdiocese of Chicago, as the administrative management director of the Laudato Si’ Center for Higher Education. The center is located at the papal villa and farms in Castel Gandolfo. Father Dorantes will begin his four-year term on December 1, as announced by the Vatican in early November.

The Laudato Si’ Center was established by Pope Francis in early 2023. The Pope expressed his desire “to make a tangible contribution to the development of ecological education by opening a new space for training and raising awareness,” according to information from the Vatican City governor’s office.

This initiative, known as the “Borgo Laudato Si'” project, aims to utilize “the beauty of the Villa Barberini gardens and the papal villas as the natural setting for developing a center for education in integral ecology, open to all people of goodwill.”

The Castel Gandolfo property covers more than 135 acres, which exceeds Vatican City's 108.7 acres. It features 74 acres of gardens — including 17 formal gardens — along with farmland, residences, and a farm that hosts various animals such as chickens, cows, and rabbits. Additionally, there are orchards, vineyards, hayfields, vegetable patches, aromatic herbs, flowerbeds and plants used to decorate papal spaces.

In September meetings with those involved at the center, Pope Francis highlighted their efforts in creating a new vineyard intended to blend tradition with innovation. This vineyard serves as a "trademark" of Borgo Laudato Si', aiming to produce wine that represents "a communion in diversity," using grape varieties selected by experts from the University of Udine.

Father Dorantes expressed his surprise and gratitude regarding his appointment in a statement on November 13: “I look forward to collaborating with the men and women who work daily toward the realization of the Holy Father’s vision expressed in Laudato Si’: to create tangible examples of the church’s contribution to care for our common home and integral human development.” He acknowledged that “the potential of the center in areas like education and ecological training is both challenging and inspiring.”