Conference marking the 10th anniversary of Laudato Si’ gathered climate specialists
Lord of life, bless this water: may it awaken our hearts, purify our indifference, soothe our pains and renew our hope. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.” It began with a touching gesture of great symbolic value made by Pope Leo XIV the October 1–3 ‘Raising Hope for Climate Justice’ conference, on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the Encyclical Laudato Si’, held at the Mariapolis Centre in Castel Gandolfo. The Pope pronounced the blessing while touching a block of ice more than 20,000 years old, broken off due to climate change from a glacier in Greenland, remained on the conference stage for all three days, dripping, as if to mark the passing of time and the urgency of taking action to save Mother Earth. “This Encyclical has profoundly inspired the Catholic Church and many people of goodwill”, Pope Leo said then added, “it opened strong dialogue, reflection groups, and academic programs.”
Milestone
The conference, which saw massive participation from audiences around the world, represents a milestone in the journey towards climate change awareness and the fight to contain it. With its gentle message, aimed at highlighting the urgency on the one hand, but also hope on the other, it aims to involve everyone – Catholics and non-Catholics alike – in a gentle revolution. In perfect continuity with Laudato Si’, which celebrated its tenth anniversary the conference highlighted a journey of theological reflection, pastoral action and rigorous scientific research. There was nothing naïve about any of the many speeches and gestures, just as the famous encyclical never indulges in a generic invitation to be more “ecological” or “do-gooder”.
A huge number of speakers took turns on stage, including eminent figures from the Church, political representatives, members of civil society, representatives of scientific institutions, and leaders of NGOs from around the world.
Immediately after the Pope, the actor and former California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, known for his environmental battles, appeared on stage. With his typical theatrical manner, he described the Pope as an “action hero, because as soon as he became pope, he ordered the Vatican to put solar panels on the buildings. This will be one of the first states to be carbon neutral. Let’s give him a big, big hand for this action”. “I am not the Action Hero”, the Pope replied, “but all of you who are working on this.”
I don’t know if we have delved into the provocation that the encyclical brings us. In this sense, I imagine that the text will continue to make history for a long time”
The October 2–3 were days of intense work, with plenary sessions and working groups involving all participants. The Irish Catholic was there and gathered some comments. “It is interesting that ten years later, the text continues to provoke us and needs to be revisited”, says Cardinal Jaime Spengler, Archbishop of Porto Alegre, President of the Brazilian Bishops Conference and the Latin American Episcopal Council (CELAM). “I have the impression that we do have the title of the text in mind, but I don’t know if we have delved into the provocation that the encyclical brings us. In this sense, I imagine that the text will continue to make history for a long time But I think it is important to emphasise that Laudato Si’ is profoundly connected to Laudate Deum, a text that reaffirms with even greater force what Laudato si’ proposes. We as Bishops Conferences, as well as or the Pan-Amazonian Network, have undertaken a very beautiful path in view of the celebration of the COPs and do want to promote the themes of COPs to all communities.”
Spectrum
“If you go back to 10, 15 years ago, before Laudato Si’’, said Alistair Dutton, Secretary General of Caritas Internationalis, “climate change was something really of one part of the political spectrum. And as when I was working as chief executive of Caritas Scotland, I would often be challenged by priests or bishops and parishioners saying, why on earth are you talking about climate change and climate justice? Caritas is a development organisation, what is all this about? So I think when Laudato Si’ was published and we had a very clear statement from Pope Francis of the science of what was happening and the moral urgency of what needed to be done, very quickly those dissenting voices went quiet, and I think then we’ve seen a time of conversion. And so I think today it is the defining issue of the age.”
We have now trained 40,000 people, 19,000 of which have gone on to become leaders in their communities. We have 60 chapters internationally and a presence in 154 countries”
“Speaking to Pope Francis many times over the last decade, and hearing him talk about the genesis of Laudato Si’, it’s really clear that he was using the influence of the Church to have a political and a public impact” explains Dr Lorna Gold, economist, theologian, and executive director of the Laudato Si’ Movement. “So, I guess the first impact is really around the Paris Agreement itself. What was perhaps surprising is that out of that came a movement, I was there right at the very start of that, just a few people, we really wanted to ensure that this encyclical didn’t fall on deaf ears, because we saw how impactful it could be. The pre-birth of the movement is from 2015 but the Laudato Si’ Movement, is only four years old. We’ve had a significant impact in terms of bringing together many different groups in the Church and outside the Church: we have now trained 40,000 people, 19,000 of which have gone on to become leaders in their communities. We have 60 chapters internationally and a presence in 154 countries.”
Unique
Dr Iyad Abumoghli, Scholar and former Director of the Faith for Earth Coalition of the United Nations Environment Programme thinks that “faiths bring a unique and irreplaceable value to the struggle for climate justice: the moral authority to inspire action where policy and science alone often fall short. Religions have the power of convening, the power of convincing, and the power of connecting hearts to minds. They translate complex environmental science into lived values and sacred duties, mobilising billions of followers. Beyond advocacy, faith communities are among the largest landholders, investors, educators, and providers of social services worldwide. Laudato Si’ has been a transformative milestone that elevated environmental care to the level of moral duty for the Catholic Church and, by extension, inspired other traditions.”
“Yes, the fight for climate justice needs conversion and faiths can play a major role in changing people’s mind”, confirms Msgr Robert J. Vitillo Focal Point with Laudato Si’ Action Platform, Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, “The Platform I run, guides participants through a journey of ecological conversion, while they implement taking concrete action as they are guided by the Laudato Si’ Goals, including ‘Response to the Cry of the Earth’, ‘Response to the Cry of the Poor’, ‘Adoption of Sustainable Lifestyles’, ‘Ecological Education’, ‘Economics and Spirituality’, ‘Community Resilience and Empowerment’. The Platform is a resource for those engaged in the journey of personal and collective ecological conversion with the aim of hastening the cultural change needed to ensure the health and future of our common home by transforming selfish lifestyles and choices into actions that heal wounds and reveal the beauty of God’s creation for generations to come.”
