VATICAN: An International Conference to Mark the 10th Anniversary of Laudato Si’ in Rome
By Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA
Ten years after Pope Francis issued an Encyclical letter called Laudato Si’ on care of our common home, an international conference themed ‘Raising Hope for Climate Justice’, is preparing to gather in Castel Gandolfo in Rome from October 1-3, to look back on what society and the Church have done in the past decade and recommit to ecological conversion, justice, and integral care for creation.
In a message published by the Vatican, the conference, promoted by the Laudato Si’ Movement in collaboration with ecclesial and institutional partners, will bring together over 400 Faith leaders, climate experts, civil society voices, policymakers, and Institutions around the world, with the conviction that the fight for climate justice requires shared responsibility and renewed courage.
The ecclesial and institutional partners that collaborated with the Laudato Si’ Movement include: The Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD), Caritas International, Focolare, Catholic Climate Covenant, Fastenaktion, Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund (SCIAF), The International Union of Superiors General (UISG), and Trócaire, among others.
The highlight of the gathering will take place on Wednesday, October 01, at the Mariapolis Centre, where Pope Leo XIV will join participants for the Celebration of Hope.
The Holy Father is expected to address the participants in the event that blends faith and science; he will affirm the Church’s commitment to ecological justice and eventually inspire fresh momentum for global action.
The programme will also feature keynote addresses from Brazil’s Minister of the Environment, Hon. Marina Silva, and former California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, who have become international advocates for climate resilience. Their presence signals the conference’s broad embrace, where policymakers, activists, and religious leaders speak a shared language of urgency and hope.
The following two days, 2 and 3 October, will continue with working sessions, roundtables, and moments of prayer.
Earlier this month, on Friday, September 5, Pope Leo XIV inaugurated the Borgo Laudato Si’ village in Castel Gandolfo, marking the tenth anniversary of the papal encyclical.
The Tenth anniversary of Laudato Si’ continues to shape consciences, inspire ecological movements, and challenge global leaders to hear “both the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor.”
