Laudato Voices | Global Laudato Si’ Alliance | March 9,2026
March 9 was a special day as representatives from universities and major international organizations from around the world gathered to launch the Global Laudato Si’ Alliance, an international initiative that brings actors together to promote integral ecology and sustainability. Brother Adolf is among the leaders representing the Laudato Youth Initiative.
Held at the Laudato Si’ Village in the Papal Gardens of Castel Gandolfo near Vatican City, the event brought together university and international organization leaders dedicated to advancing integral ecology and sustainable development. Brother Adolf joined participants from around the world, including Fr. Emmanuel Katongole of Bethany Lands Institute, who represented our Ugandan approach to promoting the ecological legacy of Pope Francis through discussions and reflections on caring for our common home, with the aim of uniting Catholic institutions to increase their impact and inspire meaningful action.
The Laudato Si’ Center for Higher Education organized the initiative in collaboration with the University of Notre Dame. Global Laudato Si’ Alliance. Cardinal Fabio Baggio, General Director of the Laudato si’ Center for Higher Education and one of the founders of the Global Alliance, addressed delegates from universities across Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas, along with leaders from international organizations committed to addressing climate change and environmental degradation.
About the Global Alliance
The Global Alliance creates a collaborative network of institutions dedicated to advancing the principles of integral ecology inspired by Laudato Si’, the landmark 2015 encyclical of Pope Francis. Through research, education, and practical initiatives, the alliance fosters sustainable practices and encourages ecological conversion across communities worldwide. The event, which ends on Tuesday, March 10, was organized by the Laudato si’ Center for Higher Education and the University of Notre Dame.
First Day Reflections from the Gathering
On the first day, Brother Adolf attended the keynote address by Cardinal Fabio Baggio, General Director of the Laudato si’ Center for Higher Education, and participated in panel discussions that reflected on leadership formation, discussing how discernment and moral development can reshape curricula to address both material and spiritual poverty, moving beyond a narrow focus on technical expertise.
Gave thought to regenerative livelihoods, imagined rural economies in which ecological restoration, dignified work, and community well-being are core goals, fostering ecological healing and human flourishing.
Discussed ways in which Catholic universities could emphasize their unique role in advancing integral ecology through institutional identity, cross-disciplinary learning, and global collaboration.
Further discussions explored leadership formation in integral ecology, highlighting the impacts of Laudato Si’ Clubs within institutions and the contributions of universities in promoting sustainability. Key takeaways included strengthened collaboration, increased awareness of sustainability best practices, and the value of interdisciplinary dialogue, as demonstrated through the guided tour of the Laudato Si’ Village and exchanges among scholars, Church representatives, and environmental advocates.
Looking Ahead
During this two-day gathering, participants will continue panel discussions on climate justice, leadership formation in integral ecology, and the role of universities in promoting sustainability, which will strengthen our efforts to form future stewards by promoting an eco-spiritual response to Laudato Si’. Specifically, this response blends local initiatives with a global outlook, supporting the Church’s mission to care for creation and encourage ecological responsibility. Key takeaways include our focus on stewardship, integration of local and global efforts, and commitment to ecological responsibility.
By being part of the Global Laudato Si’ Alliance, which focuses on institutions, we are better placed to build on our initiative’s knowledge base and expand its impact among our Laudato Si Club Leaders, thereby improving our involvement in research and planning with faith leaders. Together, we collaborate to address environmental challenges and promote justice and sustainability for the future, thus turning the vision of integral ecology into concrete joint projects that support both people and the planet.
