Laudato Voices | Celebrating one year death anniversary of Pope Francis | 21 April, 2026
Over the past year, Pope Francis’ Laudato si’ legacy has gained renewed vitality. Many institutions are now thinking about how to integrate Laudato Si’ in their policies, education systems, etc. Pope Francis, who took his name from the patron saint of ecology. St. Francis of Assisi died on the morning of Easter Monday 21st, April, 2025, a day before Earth Day, and about five weeks before the 10th anniversary of his landmark encyclical Laudato Si on care for creation. One of the key aspects of this work is that he planted the seeds of integral ecology into Catholic social teaching, which is now helping institutions and policymakers rethink how to implement Laudato Si in ways that foster ecological conversion in people’s daily actions, words, and faith.
At the heart of this enduring influence of Laudato Si’ is this year’s 800th anniversary of St. Francis of Assisi. on the occasion of the eighth centenary of the death of Saint Francis of Assisi. Pope Leo XIV issued a Decree granting the faithful the plenary indulgence. Saying, reflecting on the life of the Poor Man of Assisi, shows that God’s mercy also works in history through people who have opened their hearts to His action.
He reminded us that “This Year of Saint Francis should encourage all of us, each according to his or her own possibilities, to imitate the Poor Man of Assisi.” What message does the life of Saint Francis offer to modern man? To honor this year, Pope Leo proclaimed it an extraordinary Jubilee Year with indulgences if
Your Pray for (for oneself or for the deceased)
* Sacramental confession to be in God’s grace (in the eight days before or after);
* Participation in Mass and Eucharistic Communion;
* To visit in the form of a pilgrimage any Franciscan conventual church or place of worship dedicated to St. Francis anywhere in the world, where one renews one’s profession of faith, through the recitation of the Creed, to reaffirm one’s Christian identity;
* The recitation of the Lord’s Prayer, to reaffirm the dignity of children of God, received in Baptism.
* To pray for the intentions of the Holy Father, to reaffirm belonging to the Church, whose foundation and visible center of unity is the Roman Pontiff;
Pray of Pope Francis
To mark the death anniversary of Pope Francis, we need to pray for the gift of his life and life’s work, but also focus on how or what actions we are going to carry on to uphold his legacy as a moral compass for a generation facing the interconnected challenges of climate change, peace, social inequality, and spiritual disconnection. Pope Francis always showed a pastoral heart, with a clear awareness of the suffering of people and the world, and so to appreciate him and keep his values alive, we need to incorporate these realities into our lives by walking with the poor and those who suffer.
We see a lot of human suffering today, in wars, families, and communities, all involving the growing self-centered human behavior that Pope Francis so much condemned. Young people are the hope of the world, and we at the Laudato Youth initiative see that in the eyes of the many young people we encounter daily.
Last year, as many of us mourned Pope Francis, remembering him as a pastoral leader who dedicated his papacy to humility and care for the less fortunate, we were all consoled knowing he left the church a gift in the encyclical Laudato Si’, a legacy we at Laudato Vowed to uphold.
His well though theme for the Jubilee Year we are pilgrims of hope, prepared him and the world for an extra ordinary journey, for him it was to meet with his father in heaven for us it was to grow in hope and faith and indeed God gave us hope in His predecessor Pope Leo XIV who began his Papacy with the greeting of Jesus in the uper room “Peace be with You”. and he continues to preach the message of hope appealing to all people and world leaders to walk with each other in hopea nd build bridges of Peace as also desired by Pope Francis.
Pope Francis passed away shortly before the 10th anniversary of his encyclical Laudato Si’, during the Jubilee Year of Hope. This year also saw significant events such as the Raising Hope initiatives, the opening of Borgo Laudato Si’, and the promulgation of the Mass for the Care of Creation, and now recently we have been involved in the Borgo Laudato Si and the University of Notre Dame Global Alliance for Laudato Si, all these grown from the increased inspiration to bring to life the legacy of Pope Francis through the Laudato Si Gift that he left to the Church and the whole world.
Dreams realized, Pope Francis’ legacy growing stronger, and vision becoming clearer.
One of the most symbolic developments this past year was the opening of Borgo Laudato Si’ at Castel Gandolfo. This initiative stands as a living testament to Pope Francis’ vision because it is a major project he left in the pipeline, opening the doors of his own summer home for others to come and pray, be inspired, and learn, providing an integrated space where education, sustainability, and community converge. This has also been vividly realized through the recent Global Alliance for Laudato Si.
Formerly a traditional papal residence, Castel Gandolfo has been transformed into a center for ecological formation and innovation. The Borgo offers programs that unite science, spirituality, and social responsibility, inviting participants to experience firsthand what it means to live in harmony with creation.
This transformation carries deep symbolic significance. It marks a shift from preservation to participation, from safeguarding tradition to actively shaping the future. Pope Francis would likely view this development with profound joy, seeing it as the embodiment of his hope that the Church would not only speak about caring for the Earth, but also model it.
Also, he left while discussions were underway to recognize the day for the care of Creation. Last year, Pope Leo XIV also promulgated the Mass for the Care of Creation, fulfilling a long-held hope for ecological commitment. During his July 9, 2025, homily, Pope Leo XIV emphasized that environmental care is an essential part of the Christian faith, linking the “cry of the earth” to the “cry of the poor,” echoing his predecessor’s words.
The economy of St. Francis is also growing stronger. Laudato Youth Initiative is also strongly empowering stewards of the future who will promote the ecological legacy of Pope Francis. The faith of St. Adolf and his ecological legacy.
A Year of Reflection and Responsibility
The past year has been marked by global reflection. In his absence, many have recognized the depth of Pope Francis’ prophetic voice. His calls for integral ecology, which unites environmental, human, and spiritual concerns, have gained renewed urgency as climate events intensify and societal divisions grow.
Communities of faith have responded not with silence, but with action. For example, our Laudato Si Clubs in Parishes, schools, and other grassroots initiatives have integrated Laudato Si into liturgies, education, and outreach. What began as a Ugandan youth-led, integral-ecology-inspired initiative under the patronage of St. Adolf Mukasa Ludigho, with a shared mission as patron for hardesmen and farmers to witness with, an African and Ugandan interpretation of Laudato Si. Today, we see ourselves growing to emulate and integrate St. Francis’s legacy into our lives through our various programs. What used to be the Green Mass is now the Care for Creation Mass, uniting many for Climate Action.
The Laudato Youth Initiative
One of the most vibrant expressions of this legacy is seen in the energy of young people. The Laudato Youth Initiative’s Laudato Si’ Clubs have emerged over the past year as a powerful force for continuity and creativity. Young people have embraced the encyclical not as an abstract teaching, but as a call to lived discipleship.
Through sustainable innovations and community engagement models, they have translated Pope Francis’ vision into tangible impact. Their efforts, from reforestation and smart agricultural models to scientific projects geared toward sustainability, single-use plastic campaigns, Care for Creation Masses, interfaith dialogues, and digital awareness, reflect a deep understanding that caring for the Earth is inseparable from caring for one another.
A Legacy Carried Forward
If the past year has shown anything, it is that Pope Francis’ legacy is not confined to memory. It is alive in the choices people make, in initiatives such as the recent Global Alliance for Laudato Si’, and in the faith they practice.
His absence has, paradoxically, made his presence more widely felt. No longer limited to a single voice, his message now resonates through millions. Each act of ecological responsibility, each gesture of solidarity, and each prayer for creation continues his work, and we are proud to be part of it.
The journey ahead remains challenging. The crises he spoke of have not diminished. Yet neither has the hope he inspired.
Ultimately, the true measure of his legacy lies not in what he left behind but in what the world chooses to carry forward. Over the past year, through the spirit of Laudato Si’ and the dedication of countless individuals, especially the youth, it is clear that his vision is not only being remembered but actively lived. Our Laudato Youth Initiative remains committed to advancing this goal.
Pray for us, St. Adolf Mukasa Lidigho and All the Uganda Martyrs, St. Francis of Assisi, and Rest in peace, Pope Francis!
