Rome (Italy). The Laudato Si ‘Week is held from 22 to 29 May 2022, a week of educational and interactive online activities, events, and seminars wanted by Pope Francis to listen and “respond to the ecological crisis, the cry of the earth, and the cry of the poor,” organized by the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development with the support of a group of Catholic partners.
The Week is an opportunity to celebrate the 7th anniversary of Pope Francis Encyclical Laudato Si’ on the care of the Common Home, a gift to the Church and to the whole world, which invites us to live a path of conversion towards integral ecology and to involve the largest number of people in this process because “we believe that things can change” (LS 13).
The Encyclical has given rise to many initiatives at global and local levels: “Community Laudato Si’ “, “The Economy of Francis”, “The global Laudato Si’ movement”, “The Laudato Si’ initiative platform”, and many others. The strength of this Document lies in the process of discernment – seeing-judging-acting – which it invites to be first of all reflective, capable of deepening and going to the roots of situations, without remaining in desolation, to build change together that you want in the world starting from courageous and shared choices.
With this spirit, Laudato Si’ Week was born to annually celebrate this historic Encyclical of Pope Francis and as a way to study and share progress in the ecological field that is taking place in communities, families, Groups, and Institutions.
Guided by the theme “Listening and walking together,” this year Catholics from all over the world unite in prayer and action around the seven Laudato Si’ objectives, in the synodal style, to listen and respond to the cry of creation, to rejoice in the journey taken so far to give life to Laudato Si’, and to intensify the commitment through the Piattaforma d’Iniziative Laudato Si’ Action Platform.
Various Provinces and Educating Communities of the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians have mobilized to study deeply the process proposed by the Laudato Si’ Initiative Platform, drawing up an Action Plan and proposing concrete initiatives to be lived this week.
St. Rosa da Lima Province of Peru (PER), for example, day by day proposes a series of experiences to be carried out in the family and as a community, offering the opportunity to stop, celebrate, and implement new habits to help preserve and take care of the common home (Proposal).
The Laudato Si’ “EtnaMain” Circle of the Sicily Province Mother Maddalena Morano (ISI), joins the ecclesial proposal by animating initiatives and moments of prayer and contemplation (Program).
Principle events of the Week:
On 22 May Pope Francis will open the Week during the Regina Coeli at 12:00 (Rome time). Throughout the week in which each day will be dedicated to one of the Laudato Si’ Objectives, global and local events will take place. Speakers from around the world will share their knowledge and work. We will talk about biodiversity loss, holistic ecology, fossil fuels and climate crisis, ethical investments and ecological spirituality (Calendar of events).
The event of 26 May will inaugurate the LSAP Investor Hub, which defines a series of individual and institutional actions to facilitate the transition to a more ethical economy, as requested by Pope Francis. This event is an opportunity to share and learn how to use ethical investment techniques to influence companies towards responsible behavior (Webinar Registration).
On 27 May, on the occasion of the Day of ecological education, there will be a preview for the general public of the film “The invitation”, a feature-length documentary on Laudato Si’ which presents Pope Francis and his Encyclical that has led many people and organizations to take care of the common home and to commit themselves to solve the climate crisis. The event will start at 14:00 (Italian time). Link to register
On the Website of Laudato Si’ Week you can consult and receive more information, find links to daily activities and streaming videos, and register for events. In the Resources of the site, you can find in different languages, the Guide to the celebrations, the Prayer, and other materials to celebrate the week.
On the YouTube channel of the Laudato Si’ Movement, in different languages, it is possible to access various videos and live broadcasts.
