At the Mariapolis Center in Castel Gandolfo, Pope Leo XIV addressed the Raising Hope Conference, commemorating the tenth anniversary of Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si’.
Held on October 1 at Castel Gandolfo and supported by the Laudato Si’ Movement, the gathering united Church leaders, environmental advocates, academics, and grassroots communities to reflect on a decade of ecological awareness and commitment.
The Pope praised the many initiatives inspired by Laudato Si’, from academic programs and interreligious dialogue to diocesan projects and international summits, but reminded participants that the greatest challenge is not technical, but spiritual: a conversion of the heart.
From Reflection to Ecological Conversion
In his address, Pope Leo XIV stressed that ecological awareness must lead to true “ecological conversion.” Moving from data and discourse to lived action, he said, requires touching the heart: the center of freedom, relationships, and decision-making.
“We must shift from collecting data to caring; from environmental discourse to an ecological conversion that transforms both personal and communal lifestyles,” he said. For Christians, this conversion is inseparable from faith: “We cannot love God, whom we cannot see, while despising His creatures.”
This call echoes the vision of St. Francis of Assisi, who lived in harmony with God, others, nature, and himself. The Pope urged participants to embrace this holistic path of integral ecology, uniting justice for the poor, care for creation, and interior peace.
Unity for Our Common Home
Pope Leo XIV reaffirmed the Church’s global responsibility to care for “our common home,” highlighting the role of major international summits such as COP 30, the UN World Food Security Session, and the 2026 Water Conference.
He insisted that effective solutions cannot come from individuals alone, but must be accompanied by courageous political decisions and strong advocacy by citizens and organizations.
“We are one family, with one Father, inhabiting the same planet,” the Pope said, renewing his appeal for unity and peace through integral ecology. He emphasized the role of youth, parents, and local leaders in shaping cultural and educational change, insisting that “there is no room for indifference or resignation.”
Asia’s Witness of Hope
The Pope’s words resonate strongly with Asia, where the Church and civil society continue to mobilize for environmental justice. Across the continent, Catholic institutions and lay movements have promoted mangrove restoration in Malaysia, anti-plastic campaigns in the Philippines, sustainable farming in India, and forest protection in Indonesia and Timor-Leste.
These local efforts embody what Pope Leo XIV described as “faith inspiring hope” and demonstrate Asia’s vital role in the global mission of Laudato Si’.
As he concluded, the Pope left participants with a question: “God will ask us if we have cultivated and cared for the world He created, for the benefit of all and for future generations. What will be our answer?”
The conference, rooted in faith and action, reminded participants that the future of creation depends not only on policies or programs, but on the conversion of hearts willing to care for both the earth and the poor.
(Kasmir Nema, an SVD missionary based in the Vatican, contributes regularly to RVA and other Catholic platforms and magazines.)
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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