Online event with Lorna Gold: Celebrating 10 years of Laudato Si'

David Williams
Apr 16th, 2025

Source: Focolare GB Integral Ecology Group

It seems hard to believe that 2025 marks the 10th anniversary of the groundbreaking and influential Papal encyclical letter, Laudato Si' - On Care for Our Common Home. This will be marked by an interactive webinar on Wednesday 23 April from 7.30-9pm, with speakers including Lorna Gold, Executive Director of Laudato Si' Movement.

Pope Francis, then entering the third year since being elected Pope, drew on the writings of 'that attractive and compelling figure, whose name I took as my guide and inspiration when I was elected Bishop of Rome. I believe that St Francis is the example par excellence of care for the vulnerable and of an integral ecology lived out joyfully and authentically'.

He also noted how much St Francis is loved by non-Christians, as well as Christians of all denominations. Laudato Si' is written for everyone, not only for Catholics or even Christians. Pope Francis states at the very beginning: 'In this encyclical I would like to enter into dialogue with all people about our common home.'

The world has certainly changed in many ways since 2015 - with a global pandemic in 2020/21 and significant political changes too. However, many of the issues and challenges set out in Laudato Si' have become even more poignant, and the impacts of the climate crisis have become increasingly evident across different parts of the world - including droughts and wildfires, major storms and hurricanes, floods and melting sea ice.

There has also been considerable work in many places to bring people together to collaborate and share learning, ideas and actions. As Pope Francis writes: 'The gravity of the ecological crisis demands that we all look to the common good, embarking on a path of dialogue which demands patience, self-discipline and generosity, always keeping in mind that "realities are greater than ideas"' (Laudato Si', #201).

To mark the 10th anniversary of Laudato Si', several organisations have come together to prepare an interactive session with the theme Celebrating 10 years of Laudato Si': Raising Hope for Climate Justice. The online webinar will be held on Wednesday 23rd April from 7.30pm to 9pm (BST).

The keynote speaker will be Lorna Gold, Executive Director of Laudato Si' Movement. Other speakers include Ben Wilson, Director of Public Engagement at SCIAF; James Buchanan, Climate Finance Campaign Manager at Laudato Si' Movement; and Claudia Melis from Focolare. Revd Patrick Gerard, Diocesan Environmental Officer in the CofE Diocese of Birmingham, will lead an opening reflection.

Co-sponsors of the event include Laudato Si' Movement, Focolare GB, the Care for Creation Office of the Bishops' Conference of Scotland, CAFOD, SCIAF, the National Justice and Peace Network, Justice and Peace Scotland, Ecological Conversion Group, A Rocha UK, Eco-Congregation Scotland, Operation Noah, Green Christian and JustMoney Movement.

The evening will include reflections, experiences on the Big Bank Switch campaign (supported by several of the co-sponsors), online small group discussions and opportunities for questions and finding out about further upcoming activities.

Together we reflect, share and take action for the care of our Common Home - and we welcome everyone who wishes to be a part of it.

Find out more about the Laudato Si' Animators Programme, which begins on 30 April, here: https://laudatosianimators.org/

David Williams is Convenor of the Focolare GB Integral Ecology Group.