LAUDATO SI AT 10 YEARS
The Encyclical Letter of Pope Francis Laudato Si’ released in 2015 which called for a global ecological conversion, marks its 10th anniversary this year 2025. The document released on the eve of the 2015 Paris Agreement on Climate Change urges humanity to care for our “common home” through sustainable living, social justice, and environmental stewardship. Now, a decade later, the world has witnessed both progress and persistent challenges. Faith communities, environmental organizations, and policymakers have launched initiatives promoting renewable energy, biodiversity conservation, and climate justice, inspired by the Holy Father’s call. However, the burning of fossil fuels, deforestation, and pollution have exacerbated global warming, leading to an increase of heat waves, droughts, wildfires, and floods.
Sr. Jacinta: Welcome to Vatican Radio! Today, we have the pleasure of speaking with Br. Adolf Mugume, a dedicated religious of the Congregation of Holy Cross, who is here to share his witness and experience as a mentor of the Laudato Youth Initiative which has given hid to the Popes call action in Laudato Si as it celebrates its 10th anniversary. Br. Adolf, thank you for joining us.
Br Adolf: Thank you for having me! It’s an honor to be here today.
Sr. Jacinta: To begin, could you tell us a bit about yourself and your apostolate?
Br Adolf: My name is Br. Adolf Mugume, a religious of the Congregation of Holy Cross, and I was born and raised in Fort Portal Diocese, Uganda, in a little beautiful Country Village of Saaka. I have been involved with mentoring the Laudato Youth Initiative since the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. This initiative grew out of the need to give Hope.
My role focusses majorly on Faith Formation and Mentorship of Youth Leaders, inspiring them to embrace integral ecology and nurture stewards of the future, who value social justice, grounded in the teachings of Pope Francis in his encyclical, Laudato Si’, as well as Catholic Social teachings and SDG 13. I aim to empower youth to take action for our planet and model the way to sustainable living, encouraging them to become active participants in the ecological conversion that we are called for by the Church to address the exacerbating global warming.
Sr. Jacinta: That’s wonderful! What triggered you to begin a sustainability Project like the Laudato Youth Initiative?
Br. Adolf: The need to give hope amidst the exacerbating climate change and the urgent need for
Laudato Youth Initiative (LYI)
climate action, especially during the pandemic times that were heightened with environmental degradation in communities. Witnessing the effects of pollution and the climate injustice taking place during the pandemic motivated me to create a platform where youth who were locked in their homes could engage in meaningful action. In response to the message of the encyclical Laudato Si’, we emphasize our shared responsibility to care for our common home and encourage young people to unite and be the change they want to see as stewards of the future.
Sr. Jacinta: Why did you choose to focus on the youth for this initiative?
Br. Adolf: I chose to front the youth because they are the future leaders who will inherit the consequences of today’s environmental decisions. Engaging them fosters a sense of responsibility and hope, allowing them to become champions for change in their families and communities. We are also mentoring a generation of Laudato Youth who will grow up with the understanding of faith and values needed to approach environmental issues differently from what we are seeing today.
Sr. Jacinta: When did the Laudato Youth Initiative officially begin?
Br. Adolf: While our initiative started virtually during the pandemic with many community engagements arranged via media in 2020, we began in-person engagements in April 2022 after being hosted by John Paul Justice and Peace Centre- Kampala. A year later we launched a special program; of Laudato Si Clubs in Schools, Universities, Dioceses and communities.
Sr. Jacinta: Can you share some of the initiatives you’ve conducted to combat climate change?
Br. Adolf: Absolutely! Some key initiatives include the one million tree planting campaign, interfaith conferences, the laudato Si Festival, digital storytelling to fill the information gap and sensitize people about the message of Laudato Si’, community clean-up drives, and awareness workshops on waste management, the burning of fossil fuels, research and innovations, teaching practical in which we can apply ecological and social teachings in situations like hunger, poverty
and confronting the realities of deforestation, poor waste management and other forms of pollution that are currently giving rise to heatwaves, droughts, wildfires, and floods. We’re also promoting sustainable agricultural practices and looking forward to partnering with local organizations to promote renewable energy solutions.
Sr. Jacinta: It sounds like the Laudato Youth Initiative is making a significant impact on society. Can you elaborate more?
Br. Adolf: Certainly! The initiative has significantly influenced young people by integrating the message of Laudato Si’ and Catholic Social teachings into their lifestyles. The game changer has been the innovation of “Laudato Si Clubs” where young people are united for action. This has led to a growth in our outreach across Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania. Our youth are becoming advocates for sustainable practices, influencing their families and communities, and contributing to a broader initiative that emphasizes unity and social justice.
Sr. Jacinta: We have learned that Mental health awareness is also a focus for the Laudato youth. Why is that important in relation to the care of creation?
Br. Adolf: Well Mental health awareness is crucial because climate change has been shown to cause feelings of despair and anxiety among young people. For example, Immaculate Kisembo, one of our youth leaders, revealed in her current article that “the current heatwaves in Uganda are affecting students’ ability to concentrate in school. By addressing mental health, we recognize the interconnectedness of human well-being and a healthy environment.” Our initiative promotes holistic care that encompasses both the external and internal environments.
Sr. Jacinta: What is the way forward for the Laudato Youth Initiative?
Br. Adolf: The way forward involves calling upon the Church and environmental enthusiasts to partner with us to expand our outreach. We aim to continue mentoring young people to take a synodal approach of uniting with practical solutions to respond to the message of Laudato Si in their Clubs to adopt sustainable practices and enhance educational programs while advocating for a unified effort that prioritizes ecological health and the needs of the impoverished.
Sr. Jacinta: Are there any gaps that still need to be addressed despite the progress made?
Br. Adolf: Yes, there are still gaps that need urgent attention, such as insufficient funding for grassroots initiatives and a lack of comprehensive environmental education on the crisis. More also needs to be done at church levels to educate Christians about the meaning of this encyclical. We need to ensure that the voices of young people and the poor are included in discussions about climate action.
Sr. Jacinta: As we celebrate the 10th anniversary of Laudato Si’, what final thoughts would you like to share with our audience?
Br. Adolf: As we all know this anniversary falls in a jubilee year of Hope, so it is an opportunity for us to reflect and embrace the renewal and foster commitment to a deeper conversion to mark a new beginning in our efforts for ecological care. It serves as a call to action for all of us to deepen our commitment to ecological conversion and inspire others to support ecological initiatives and movements. Together, we can create a legacy of stewardship and care for our common home that future generations will be proud to inherit. I encourage everyone to get involved, educate themselves, and take action, as every small step counts in the journey toward ecological justice.
Sr. Jacinta: Thank you, Br. Adolf, for sharing your insights and experiences about the Laudato Youth Initiative and its vital role in promoting environmental stewardship. We appreciate your commitment to this important cause!
Br. Adolf: Thank you for having me! It’s been a pleasure to share.
