By Laudato Voices |Restarting the Economy Conference | November 26, 2025

A Laudato Youth Initiative Reflection on the Forthcoming “Restarting the Economy” Conference. As many young people from all over the world travel to Rome for Ecologika: aimed at Educating Young People to Care for Our Common Home. This event comes shortly after after COP30 that has left many young people wondering. It will be important that this conference that will run from November 28 to 30, 2025, in the quiet hills surrounding Castel Gandolfo will become a global crossroads of hope and transformation. As young economists, entrepreneurs, students, and change-makers from every continent will gather for Restarting the Economy, a worldwide event promoted by The Economy of Francesco. The conference seeks nothing less than to help shape a more just, sustainable, and inclusive economy, guided by the vision of Pope Francis and carried forward with the energy of the world’s young people.

This year, is a very important event for us at the Laudato Youth Initiative as young people will be re energised and helped to walk the journey of ecological transformation. When we reflected particularlyon the work of the  students from the Istituto Salesiano San Marco, winners of Ekologica 2025, whose project “Water and Renewable Sources” embodied the creativity, scientific rigor, and spiritual responsibility that animate our mission by  exploreing innovative ways to address water scarcity using clean energy—an example of the kind of integral ecology emphasized in Laudato si’ (Pope Francis, 2015). We see our new efforts of MAST inspiring our work more in the coming year.

A Celebration of Young Leaders

This effort and gathering will also celebrate young leaders and also amplify voices for young peoples contribution in integral ecology, faith, science and innovation. Our young heros who have continuously engaged in reflections, research presentations, and dialogue with fellow young people, educators, churches and institutions are not only advancing  scientific innovation but also for the depth of environmental and social awareness some of which are often displayed at our Laudato Si Green Festivals.

These Laudato Youth are growing into  a new generation of leaders capable of seeing the world through the lens of interconnectedness, a principle strongly affirmed in Laudato si’ when it reminds us that “everything is connected” (Pope Francis, 2015).

From Reflection to Action: The Birth of Ecologika

Launched in 2022 by Gabriella Chiellino, in collaboration with the Laudato Si’ Center in Assisi and the Patriarchate of Venice, Ecologika was inspired by the documentary “The Letter”. which we deeply reflected on and shared with all our youth. As this event seeks to guide young people from reflection to action, echoing Pope Francis’ call for ecological conversion and concrete commitment (Pope Francis, 2015). that leaves us asking ourselves “what is happening to our common home”

Supported by the Italian Bishops’ Conference, the Fratelli Tutti Foundation, and èAmbiente, the program grows from the conviction that social, environmental, and spiritual renewal must move together—another core theme of Laudato si’ (Pope Francis, 2015).

Integral Ecology in Practice

The values at the heart of Ecologika reflect the framework of integral ecology proposed in Laudato si’, which calls for care across four environments: the inner, relational, work, and natural environments (Pope Francis, 2015). Courses cover topics such as climate change, social economy, sustainable construction, and artificial intelligence, challenging students to create local, practical solutions to global ecological issues—an approach aligned with Pope Francis’ invitation to unite science, ethics, and spirituality (Pope Francis, 2015).

With the long-term dream being to establish Ecologika as a national model of ecological education, shaping students with the holistic worldview needed to care for our common home. We also aim to establish Laudato Si Clubs as Uganda’s National Catholic Model with similar objectives to care for our common home.

On the Road to Castel Gandolfo

As the Restarting the Economy conference approaches, the presence of Ecologika’s winning students is a powerful sign of what young people can contribute when inspired by the message of Laudato si’ and empowered to lead. They bring not only scientific expertise but also a spiritual sensitivity and moral clarity essential for building an economy that serves the dignity of all creation.

The Journey Continues

Integral ecology is a journey—one built step by step, school by school, generation by generation. Ecologika and the Laudato Youth Initiative share a deep conviction:
Young people are not only the future—they are the protagonists of ecological transformation today. As Laudato si’ reminds us, “Everything is connected.” (Pope Francis, 2015) And when young people rise, hope rises with them. We then must United with them for Climate Action