Laudato Si' Movement
Laudato Si' Movement (LSM) is a global network of over 900 Catholic organizations and over 10,000 trained grassroots leaders known as Laudato Si' Animators. Inspired by the Laudato Si' encyclical of Pope Francis, LSM's stated mission is to "inspire and mobilize the Catholic community to care for our common home and achieve climate and ecological justice".[1]
History
Sponsored by Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, the movement was founded in the Philippines in January 2015, when Pope Francis arrived in Manila. Its original name, Global Catholic Climate Movement, was changed to Laudato Si' Movement in 2021 to better reflect its mission.[2]
LSM has played a key role in supporting the church to receive and implement the Laudato si' encyclical. In partnership with the Vatican Dicastery for Integral Human Development, Laudato Si' Movement convenes various global initiatives to raise awareness and spark Catholic environmental action, such as:
- the annual Laudato Si' Week celebration,[3] held most recently in May 2022.[4]
- the Season of Creation ecumenical celebration, held during the period from 1 September to 4 October each year,[a] and
- the film "The Letter: A Message for our Earth".[6]
LSM has also spearheaded other initiatives such as the Laudato Si' Animators training,[7] and record-breaking participation of Catholic institutions in the Fossil fuel divestment campaign.[8][9]
Assisi
LSM has a center in Assisi, coordinating the project "Assisi: Terra Laudato Si'",[10] which connects various Franciscan sites to tell the story of the Canticle of the Creatures and Laudato Si'. The project was announced by Bishop Domenico Sorrentino and blessed by the Vatican's Cardinal Czerny in a Pentecost ceremony in May 2023.[11]
Regional and local activities
Poland
The Polish branch of Laudato Si Movement (Światowy Ruch Katolików na rzecz Środowiska) was registered as a foundation in 2019. Apart from the regular Laudato Si Animators training, the foundation organizes conferences, other meetings, and has initiated various projects[12]:
- Green Parishes
- Conferences "Creatio Continua" in cooperation with the Pontifical University of John Paul II in Kraków
- PielGREEN[13] – illustrated Green Pilgrimage Principles, available also in English (PilGREEN), which promote spiritual ecotourism on foot
- Programme "Warm Home – Warm Church".
Notes
- ^ The Season of Creation was established by Ecumenical Patriarch Dimitrios I in 1989. 1 September was initially declared to be an Orthodox Day of Prayer for Creation. The World Council of Churches subsequently extended the celebration to 4 October, the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of the environment.[5]
References
- ^ Laudato Si' Movement, Who we are, accessed 10/10/2022
- ^ "Global Catholic climate group rebrands as Laudato Si' Movement". www.ncronline.org. Retrieved 2022-11-25.
- ^ "Laudato si' Week: Global events to highlight concept of integral ecology - Vatican News". www.vaticannews.va. 2022-05-20. Retrieved 2022-11-25.
- ^ "Laudato Si' Week 2022: Journeying Together". Laudato Si Week. Retrieved 2022-11-25.
- ^ "Pope seeks 'ecological conversion' during Season of Creation - UCA News". ucanews.com. Retrieved 2022-11-25.
- ^ "Pope Francis YouTube Doc 'The Letter: A Message For Our Earth' Launches From Vatican City – Trailer". Variety. 2022-10-04. Retrieved 2022-11-25.
- ^ "ENROLL NOW Laudato Si' Animators". Laudato Si Animators. Retrieved 2022-11-25.
- ^ "Catholic church to make record divestment from fossil fuels". the Guardian. 2017-10-03. Retrieved 2022-11-25.
- ^ "35 religious institutions divest $500 million from fossil fuels | ROME REPORTS". www.romereports.com. 13 July 2022. Retrieved 2022-11-25.
- ^ "Assisi: Terra Laudato Si'". Assisi: Terra Laudato Si'. Retrieved 2023-08-16.
- ^ ""ASSISI: TERRA LAUDATO SI'". NUOVO PROGETTO ECOLOGICO SULLE ORME DI SAN FRANCESCO". Diocesi di Assisi (in Italian). 2023-05-30. Retrieved 2023-08-16.
- ^ "O nas". Światowy Ruch Katolików na rzecz Środowiska. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
- ^ "Projekt PielGREEN". Światowy Ruch Katolików na rzecz Środowiska. Retrieved 25 February 2024.