Celebrating 10 Years of Laudato Si’: A Decade of Ecological Conversion and Action

May 24, 2015 – May 24, 2025

Today, we celebrate the 10th anniversary of Laudato Si’, the groundbreaking encyclical by the late Pope Francis that called the world to urgent ecological and social transformation. Issued on May 24, 2015, Laudato Si’ continues to echo powerfully across continents, cultures, and communities, calling each of us to “hear the cry of the Earth and the cry of the poor.”

“All it takes is one good person to restore hope.”

—Pope Francis, Laudato Si’, 71

This anniversary is more than a date; it is a celebration of an initiative that has taken root in schools, universities, parishes, dioceses, and communities across East Africa to the rest of the world. From Uganda to Kenya and Tanzania, our youth-led initiatives, mentors Laudato Si’ Clubs that have brought the encyclical to life with bold, creative actions that honor the interconnectedness of all creation.

‘Laudato Si’ tells us: Everything is interconnected when caring for the Earth

“Everything is interconnected.” Those three words serve as a key to unlocking the purpose of Pope Francis’ 2015 encyclical “Laudato Si‘” on the urgent need to give care to the planet Earth, “our common home.” Pope Francis bases his thinking about essential interconnections in human life on Scripture. The creation accounts in the book of Genesis “suggest that human life is grounded in three fundamental and closely intertwined relationships: with God, with our neighbor and with the earth itself,” he observes (No. 66).

Alive in Action: Our Laudato Si Clubs’ in institutions and Communities

Over the past months, we have commemorated this anniversary through a series of transformative events and activities anchored in the seven goals of Laudato Si’:

1. Response to the Cry of the Earth

2. Response to the Cry of the Poor

3. Ecological Economics

4. Adoption of Sustainable Lifestyles

5. Ecological Education

6. Ecological Spirituality

7. Community Resilience and Empowerment

Stories from the Laudato Youth Initiative

• Holy Cross Lake View S.S.S (Uganda): Students have turned plastic waste into resources, offering both ecological renewal and income opportunities for youth—a local response with global relevance.

• Nyakasura School (Uganda): A large-scale avocado seed-raising and distribution initiative is supporting biodiversity and food security by engaging local farmers and communities.

• Fort Portal Diocese (Uganda): Over 5,000 trees were planted by youth in honor of Pope Francis’ ecological legacy, with some teams volunteering to remove plastic waste from public gatherings, blending care for nature with community service.

• Divine Mercy Secondary School (Uganda): Laudato Youth have led ecological tours that involve community service activities and cultivated school gardens using organic manure, helping Laudato Youth and communities understand the importance of sustainable food systems and ecological education.

St. Adolf Parish Kanyabachope Parish conducted a Laudato Si Mass for the 10 Years Anniversary and tree planting

• Kenya: Laudato Youth collaborate across generations and parishes, planting trees, crafting candles from waste, and playing environmental awareness games with 3Es, all while deepening bonds between ecology and spirituality.

Indigenous and fruit tree planting in Communities

Sustainable Light, Spiritual Impact: EcoGlow Laudate Candles Transform Glass Waste into Sacred, Eco-Friendly Products

• Tanzania: In Kitete, young champions have used media to raise environmental awareness and collaborate on reforestation projects around Ngorongoro National Park, deeply rooted in indigenous wisdom and ecological spirituality.

• Jinja (Uganda): Weekly student-led clean-ups inspired school leadership to promote ecological formation, highlighting how simple acts can spark institutional change.

Across the region and beyond, our youth leaders are bridging knowledge gaps, forming interfaith coalitions, and empowering peers to see climate action as a moral, spiritual, and civic responsibility.

A Church in Ecological Renewal

In every act, we strive to live out the vision of Laudato Si’, growing a Church that is ever more ecological, rooted in the Gospel. As Pope Francis wrote, “All it takes is one good person to restore hope.” And today, we see thousands of youth answering that call with courage, care, and community.

As we look to the future, we do so with deep hope. The recent election of Pope Leo XIV opens a new chapter in the Church’s journey. As his papacy begins, we remain steadfast on the path Pope Francis set before us, embracing jubilee and renewal in many forms.

Pope Leo XIV calls us to build bridges for ecological and social justice

According to Vatican News. Marking the 10th anniversary of Laudato si’, Pope Leo XIV sent a videomessage to the Network of Universities for the Care of Our Common Home, and encourages their synodal reflection ahead of COP30. Addressing the gencounter, the Holy Father expressed his joy at the Network’s commitment to “engaging in a synodal work of discernment in preparation for COP30”. He acknowledged the universities’ efforts to reflect on “a possible reconciliation between public debt and ecological debt” – a theme recently highlighted in the message released for World Day of Peace.

The Popes intrest in young people in universities during his message for the 10 years anniversary of Laudato Si inspires us a an initiative that focuses on the youth in institutions looking forward to building a model of Laudato Si response for young people. “This Jubilee Year”, the Pope added, “is a year of hope”, inviting the young people to pursue their endeavours with hope.

Pope Leo expressed his gratitude to all those present for their dedication and service, thanking them “for all your efforts and your work” he also encouraged each and every person, to continue as they “keep building bridges.”

Gratitude and Commitment

To every youth, patron, mentor, chaplains, family, and friend who has joined this journey: thank you. You are the living embodiment of Laudato Si’. As we enter the next decade of ecological conversion, may our shared commitment deepen, and may we continue to walk together in caring for our common home.