By: Laudato Youth Initiative: Published on Labor Day, May 1st – Feast of St. Joseph the Worker 

What Young People Want practical activities and solutions a green pilgrimage to Ecological Conversion to Keep the Legacy of Pope Francis Alive

We want a Church that continues to speak boldly against exploitation, waste, and injustice, one that leads with clarity and courage, as Pope Francis did. Laudato Si’ is not just a document, it is a challenge to live differently. –  said a Laudato Youth Leader

Work is a form of participating in creation. – Pope Francis

On this Labor Day, as the world celebrates the dignity of human work and honors those who toil with hands and heart, the Laudato Youth, pause to reflect on the labor of love that has defined the pontificate of Pope Francis especially his tireless efforts to awaken the world to ecological justice.

As the Catholic Church looks toward the future beyond the leadership of Pope Francis, young people around the world especially those engaged in our Laudato Si’ Clubs under the Laudato Youth Initiative are rising up with a clear and urgent message: we must keep the flame of ecological conversion burning brighter than ever.

Pope Francis gave us more than an encyclical. He gave us a mission to form a generation of Laudato Youth that will unite Ugandans, the African Content and the world for Climate Action. If you are any young person out there valuing the work of Pope France you need to quickly consider becoming a Laudato Youth!

Just for your information his call to “hear the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor” is a message that speaks to the heart of our generation. His vision united science and spirituality, justice and mercy, faith and action. And now, we ask as young stewards of creation: What comes next? I think..

1. A Church That Continues to Preach Ecological Conversion

Labor Day reminds us that true work transforms not only the world around us but the heart within us. Young people are calling for a Church that will keep ecological conversion at the center of its mission, a spiritual transformation that changes how we live, consume, and relate to creation.

We want a Church that continues to speak boldly against exploitation, waste, and injustice, one that leads with clarity and courage, as Pope Francis did.

2. Supporting Youth Leadership in Climate Action

Our labor as Laudato Youth; planting trees, running clean-up campaigns, innovating sustainable solutions is sacred. Across Uganda and East Africa, our Laudato Si’ Clubs are thriving with energy and hope.

What we ask of the Church is support: mentorship, space, resources, and trust. We want a Church that believes in us, collaborates with us, and invests in our capacity to lead for the long term.

3. Greening the Church from Within

The Church’s own institutions must reflect what they teach. Laudato Si’ is not just a document, it is a challenge to live differently.

Whether it’s solar-powered churches/ institutions of learning / families, eco-friendly liturgies and activities, or parish sustainability projects and institutional sustainability projects, young people want a Church and governments that practice what they teach and preach. Recently, one of our youth in Kenya launched the Laudate Candles project at Holy Cross Parish Dandora  —a glowing example of faith in action.

We also want to see environmental care integrated into faith formation into seminaries, catechism classes, and pastoral planning. Let the Church become a living classroom of ecological values. Our future religious leaders need to be grounded in knowledge of the ecological problem in order to teach it well. The Legacy of Pope Francis brought to life by our upcoming Laudato Youth mentorship program for young religious in practical ecological values and practices.

4. Global Solidarity for Climate Justice

Labor Day reminds us that justice means more than fair wages; it means defending the vulnerable. Climate change strikes hardest where poverty already bites deepest. Pope Francis never stopped reminding us of that and we see this reality every day in our communities. We recently witnessed the Vatican unveiling an inspiring theme for the 2025 World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, to be celebrated in September. Pope Francis chose the theme “Seeds of Peace and Hope,” emphasizing the profound interconnection between peace and the stewardship of our environment. In relation to the above, the United Nations   Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, recently upheld Pope Francis for always being “A voice of peace in a world of war.”

Laudato Youth want a Church that stands in global solidarity with communities on the front lines of the climate crisis. We seek interfaith alliances, cross-border action, and a deep commitment to the poor, the displaced, and the forgotten as a way to flame the torch of Pope Francis’ Legacy.

5. Spiritual Depth for a Troubled World

More than just work, we long for meaning. The beauty of nature invites us into a deeper encounter with God. As Pope Francis taught, ecological spirituality is not optional—it is essential.

We envision a Church that offers green liturgies, seasonal prayers, and sacred spaces where the youth can reflect, listen, and be moved to act. Let us discover the sacred in the soil, the streams, and the silence.

Carrying the Flame Forward – “Did Not Our Hearts Burn Within Us?”

On this Labor Day, we remember that Pope Francis labored tirelessly for creation. His words were not just doctrine—they were a call to transformation.

As we reflect on Luke 24:32—“Did not our hearts burn within us…?”—we recognize the fire that Pope Francis lit in our hearts. It is a fire of hope, of urgency, and of responsibility. Just like our own Uganda Martyrs whose legacy, interwoven with the threads of ecological sustainability, serves as a beacon of hope and responsibility for future generations. The Blood of the Martyrs: Seeds of Hope for an Integral Ecology.

The Laudato Youth, commit to carrying this flame forward—not with words alone, but with action. We are literally and spiritually planting seeds of Hope so that the Church may grow greener, more just, and more alive than ever imitating the example of St. Joseph the work and Pope Francis.

Ours is a Prayer and Action approach. Come, Holy Spirit, make us stewards of creation and messengers of hope on this Labor Day with all humility like St. Joseph did everything in silence but his actions spoke louder. We too may imitate this in memory of Franciscus. We also remember to pray that God guides the College of Cardinals so that they may listen to the Holy Spirit as they discern whom to choose as the next successor of St. Peter.

Laudato Youth – United for Climate Action

Laudato Youth Initiative. Faith for Action. Stewardship for Hope – Happy Labor Day