This morning we welcomed the Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, to Borgo Laudato Si’.

Together with Fr. Manuel Dorantes, our Managing Director, and the gardening team, the Archbishop joined a moment of prayer and reflection, planting the orchid that King Charles III had given to Pope Leo XIV during the recent State Visit to the Holy See.

During their meeting, Pope Leo and King Charles exchanged two identical orchids — a symbolic gesture reflecting their shared commitment to caring for creation and promoting a more sustainable way of life.

The two white orchids belong to the Cymbidium species, a resilient variety that thrives both in cooler climates like the English one and in more temperate environments, symbolizing harmony with nature.

The meeting in the Sala Regia, dedicated to the theme of care for our common home, was introduced by Sister Alessandra Smerilli, Secretary of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development and a member of our Board of Directors, who explained the meaning behind the initiative.

The orchid given by the King was planted today in the Garden of the Madonnina, a place where the Pope often stops to pray.

The visit concluded with a shared moment of prayer.