FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Kirikumwino Sarah
Club’s President
Laudato Youth Initiative, Kampala – Uganda
📧 laudatoyouthinitiative@gmail.com
Mr. Benard Kahwa
Director
Laudato Youth Initiative, Kampala – Uganda
📧 info@laudato-youthinitiative.org
📞 Tel: +256 781 996 608
April 23, 2025
Laudato Youth Initiative Launches Memorial Activities to Honor Pope Francis’ Legacy
Kampala, Uganda – In the wake of the passing of Pope Francis, the Laudato Youth Initiative has launched a series of activities aimed at preserving and celebrating the late pontiff’s legacy of care for creation, justice, and peace. Pope Francis, who passed away on April 21, 2025, was revered worldwide for his groundbreaking encyclicals Laudato Si’, Fratelli Tutti, and Laudate Deum, which shaped a generation of climate justice and integral human development advocates.
Under the banner “Living His Legacy of Pope Francis”, the Laudato Youth Initiative will roll out ten memorial actions engaging its Laudato Si Clubs in schools, universities, dioceses, and communities across East Africa. Key highlights include:
1. “Plant a Tree(s) Legacy” Tree Campaign
Aiming to plant over 100,000 trees in East Africa, this flagship campaign invites Laudato Youth and organizations to plant trees in memory of Pope Francis and in celebration of the 10th anniversary of Laudato Si’. A digital map will track contributions with photos and locations from around East Africa.
2. Laudato Youth
We shall nurture a generation that honors Pope Francis as a model by his life of humility, and uniting humanity to honor God and Creation, reflecting on his legacy, and being part of this collective remembrance.
3. “Laudato Voices – Echoes of Francis” Podcast and Video Series
This youth-led media series will reflect on Pope Francis’ teachings and how his vision continues to inspire environmental and social action across faiths and cultures.
4. Green Memorial Mass & Creation Liturgy – April 21 (Annually)
An annual liturgy titled “A Church for the Poor and a Planet for All” will unite the Laudato Si’ Clubs in prayer and commitment to the mission Pope Francis embodied.
5. Francis Footprints: Service Challenge
A week-long challenge encouraging youth to engage in acts of ecological service, including recycling, tree planting, and community clean-ups, shared online using #FrancisFootprints. Will be celebrated every year during Laudato Si Week.
6. Pope Francis Climate Justice Mural Project
Laudato Youth artists will create murals in schools and public spaces inspired by Pope Francis’ environmental teachings and quotes, turning cities and classrooms into living tributes.
7. Digital Archive: Letters to Pope Francis
Laudato Youth will submit letters sharing how Pope Francis inspired them. The letters will be compiled into a digital and printed memorial collection.
8. “Living Laudato Si’” Innovation Fair
A showcase of student-led eco-projects and innovations, in partnership with ministries of education and local governments, highlighting the real-world impact of Laudato Si’ Clubs. This will be an activity for the Season of Creation.
9. A National Day of Reflection
All Laudato Si’ Clubs will dedicate a day annually to reflection, prayer, and creative expression in honor of Pope Francis’ vision for ecological conversion.
10. Pope Francis Memorial Youth Summit
A regional or national youth summit will be hosted annually to engage young leaders around Pope Francis’ core themes of sustainability, fraternity, and justice, culminating in a youth unity declaration to guide future action.
“We believe these efforts not only honor Pope Francis but actively live out the spirit of his papacy,” said Br. Adolf Mugume, C.S.C, Mentor for the Laudato Youth Initiative. “His voice awakened a generation of Laudato Youth — now we will carry it forward.”
The Laudato Youth Initiative invites all its Laudato Si Clubs, schools, parishes, youth initiatives, governments, movements, and organizations around the world to emulate these efforts and unite with us in prayer and action as a way to participate and collaborate with us in these activities.
For more information, partnerships, or to join an initiative, please visit:
🌍 www.laudato-youthinitiative.org
📧 laudatoyouthinitiative@gmail.com
#LaudatoSi10 #RIPPopeFrancis #YouthForCreation #LivingHisLegacy #FrancisFootprints #LaudatoYouth #LaudatoYouthInitiative