Pope Francis issued an order on Wednesday designating a field of solar panels to power Vatican City in a contested area of northern Rome.

The Vatican is dedicated to lowering carbon emissions in accordance with the UN climate agreements. To oversee the construction of a solar farm at Santa Maria di Galeria, Pope Francis has designated delegates from the Vatican. He issued an order stating that the radio and other functions of the Vatican City State would be powered by the solar energy generated.

Vatican Radio established the Santa Maria di Galeria property as a base in 1957. It is 430 hectares (1,063 acres) in size and has extraterritorial status. According to the pope's broadcaster, a number of short- and medium-wave radio antennae dispersed around the countryside transmit Catholic and Vatican news in numerous languages worldwide.

People who live in the area about 35 kilometers (20 miles) north of the Vatican are concerned about their health as the area becomes more developed. They even linked cases of juvenile leukemia to the electromagnetic radiation produced by the towers. The Vatican had long maintained that there was no cause and effect.

Even though locals sued Vatican Radio officials in the 1990s, the transmitter has now been fully affirmed by the court. They said the emissions from the station were higher than what was allowed in Italy. The Vatican declared in 2012 that it would cut back on the amount of time it spent broadcasting from that site. Rather than any health concerns, the decision was made because of technological developments in internet broadcasting that have led to cost savings.

The Vatican is working to reduce its carbon footprint because the popes are prioritizing environmental preservation. To offset its emissions, the Vatican welcomed a donated "climate forest" in Hungary and added solar panels to the roof of its main audience hall.

The Vatican is replacing its car fleet with electric vehicles as part of a plan called "Ecological Conversion 2030." This plan aims to promote sustainable and carbon-neutral projects in the city. Pope Francis is leading this initiative, emphasizing the importance of taking care of God's creation.