Laudato Si' week to mark seven years since encyclical

Laudato Si’ Week 2022 will be held from 22 to 29 May, marking the seventh anniversary of Pope Francis’ landmark encyclical on care for creation.

It spotlights the Laudato Si’ Action Platform, with each day focusing on one of its seven Laudato Si' goals. The theme for the week is “Listening and Journeying Together” and it reminds that scientific reports urge more rapid international action on climate change and biodiversity.

A Laudato Si’ formation series for young people is being run in Tanzania, with a session featuring Bishop Henry Mchamungu, Auxiliary of Dar es Salaam, explaining Catholic Social Teaching. In Malaysia, the Creation Justice Commission in the Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu is providing activities for the whole week, involving as many people as possible.

Columbans in Fiji offer a video marking the impacts of climate change on communities in and around Suva, particularly those close to the coast. The Diocese of Charlotte in the US state of North Carolina has installed solar panels in its churches and schools to reduce CO2 emissions.

Catholic Earthcare Australia will host an online screening of the newly released “Regenerating Australia” short film. It is a fictitious news segment set on New Year’s Eve 2029, examining the decade that “could be”. There are programmes available for parishes and schools.

The Diocese of Parramatta has joined the Laudato Si’ Action Platform, with Bishop Vincent Long forming a Laudato Si’ Action Team “to drive change on a diocesan level and to accompany parishes, schools and organisations”. The Australian bishops have pledged to follow the Pope’s invitation and embark with him on this seven-year journey, and are producing a Laudati Si’ Week resource.

Pope Francis's official Laudato Si' Week celebration will be broadcast from St Peter's Square on 22 May, and there will be a Laudato Si' festival in Assisi on 28 May, focusing on ecological spirituality. 

Other international events include an interfaith event in Uganda, a “Green Mass” in the US Diocese of Atlanta, and a Caritas Oceania Youth Forum. In the UK, SCIAF has produced a resource for schools and parish groups in Scotland.