By Laudato Voices | August 31, 2025. As the global Church steps into the Season of Creation (September 1 – October 4, 2025), the Laudato Youth Initiative is lifting its voice in harmony with this year’s theme: “Peace with Creation.” In a world aching with division, environmental destruction, digital divide, and spiritual neglect in some parts of the world, young people are stepping forward to lead with courage, creativity, and deep-rooted faith. Their language? Music, song, and praise. Their means is digital space, we now call them digital missionaries of hope.
Inspired by the Vatican’s Musical Witness
On September 13, 2025, the Vatican will host “Grace for the World,” a major concert in St. Peter’s Square, co-directed by Andrea Bocelli and Pharrell Williams. Featuring artists like John Legend, Karol G, and others, the event will promote human fraternity, peace, and unity through music and creative expression (Catholic News Agency, 2025).
Described as “an evening of music, a drone light show, and reflections on values such as food, peace, justice, and freedom,” in our view, this concert sends a global message: music has the power to heal, unite, and restore that we must all listen to and act upon in our means.
This powerful moment in Rome echoes across continents, including Africa, and here in Uganda, where the Laudato Youth Initiative is rising, rooted in faith, drawn from our culture, and committed to unite in action.
Seeds of Peace and Hope for Creation: Music as Ministry
In every rhythm and refrain, young people from Laudato Si’ Clubs in schools, universities, parishes, and communities will celebrate this Season of Creation, besides their tree planting action activities, by making space for song, reflection, interfaith dialogue, and ecological prayer. The theme “Peace with Creation” reflects their deep desire to renew both the Earth and the human spirit.
Through this, we are reflecting on King David, who lifted his soul to God through Psalms, not just in praise, but in repentance, renewal, and public lament. Today’s youth are asking: What songs are we singing for the Earth? Who are we leaving behind?
A Voice from our Laudato Youth Initiative Mentor’s Cry
Brother Adolf speaks boldly to the heart of the matter:
“A faith-filled and God-fearing heart is full of love and sees the image of God in others and in creation itself. We shouldn’t destroy what we didn’t make and can’t make. The many people we see dying in wars and ecological disasters are a sign that humanity is drifting from its God-given role to protect what God created.”
He calls for both ecological and spiritual conversion, affirming that “hearing the cry of the Earth and the poor” means we must stop, reflect, and respond not just with policy, but with prayer and prophetic action.
He adds:
“We need interfaith cooperation and youth dialogue to confront religious violence, war, and ecological abuse. Music is one of the last remaining languages that crosses all lines. Let it build bridges.”
Wisdom from the Martyrs: St. Adolf Mukasa Ludigo
St. Adolf Mukasa, one of the Ugandan Martyrs, once said:
“God has called me. I must go. I cannot hate, even those who wrong me. My faith gives me peace, even in fire.”
This spirit of peace in the face of pain, and faith in the midst of crisis, is what today’s Laudato Youth hope to reclaim not just in Uganda, but globally. In a continent where music is deeply interwoven with storytelling, healing, and worship, Ugandan youth are reclaiming the drumbeat of faith to call for climate justice and peace.
Youth-Led and Spirit-Driven Action
This Season of Creation, Laudato Youth will:
- Host music and reflection gatherings centered on peacebuilding and ecological justice.
- Promote equal participation of girls and boys, affirming dignity and shared leadership.
- Compose and perform original songs, spoken word in natural environments, and prayers celebrating creation and mourning its loss.
- Mobilize youth in schools, parishes, dioceses, and communities for practical and impactful activities.
In their voices and actions, the future of the Church is not just speaking it is singing.
A Season for Unity and Urgency
In an era marked by ecological degradation, digital divides, and deep global tensions, our Laudato Youth proclaim: Music is not just a celebration, it is resistance. It is prayer. It is a prophecy.
Guided by Pope Francis’s Fratelli Tutti and Laudato Si’, this Season of Creation calls us to unity not only with each other, but with all of creation:
“We are all brothers and sisters” (Francis, 2020, para. 8).
“We need to hear both the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor” (Francis, 2015, para. 49).
This is not a time for silence. It is a time for the Church from the Vatican to villages to let the songs of peace, praise, and prophetic hope rise. Let our drums, guitars, choirs, and hearts echo across the Earth:
Peace with creation is possible. But only if we walk and sing together. As Jesus said, and Pope Leo recently greeted us, “Peace be with you.” Learn more about our Season of Creation Activities
Dear Humanity
Bibliography
Catholic News Agency. (2025, August 28). Andrea Bocelli, Pharrell Williams to direct Vatican concert for human fraternity. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/266259/andrea-bocelli-pharrell-williams-to-direct-vatican-concert-for-human-fraternity
Francis. (2015). Laudato Si’: On care for our common home. https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/encyclicals/documents/papa-francesco_20150524_enciclica-laudato-si.html
Francis. (2020). Fratelli Tutti: On fraternity and social friendship. https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/encyclicals/documents/papa-francesco_20201003_enciclica-fratelli-tutti.html
Brother Adolf. (2025). Personal interview
St. Adolf Mukasa Ludigo. (1886). Quoted from Uganda Martyrs historical archives, Namugongo Shrine, Uganda.
