Sunday, May 22, marked the beginning of Laudato Si’ Week 2022. From May 22-29, Catholics around the world are uniting to mark the seventh anniversary of Pope Francis’ encyclical on the care of our common home, and to celebrate the progress made so far in bringing Laudato Si’ to life.
The theme for Laudato Si’ Week is “Listening and Journeying Together.” In the words of Tomás Insua, Executive Director of Laudato Si’ Movement, “Laudato Si’ Week has blossomed into a global celebration that leaves the faithful feeling inspired to do even more for our common home. Amidst chaos and destruction globally, every day Catholics take urgent action against the climate emergency and ecological crisis. Laudato Si’ Week will serve as a fountain of inspiration and lessons learned for all people interested in saving God’s creation”.
Each day of the week features a variety of events tied to one of the seven Laudato Si’ goals. A full list of the events is available on the website, and the seven official events are listed below. Most can be viewed online; for Friday’s event, advance registration is required.
To learn more about Laudato Si’, visit the Vatican’s Laudato Si’ Action Platform.
Laudato Si’ Week 2022 Official Events
All events except Friday’s can be viewed during and after the event on the Laudato Si Movement website, Facebook page, or YouTube channel.
Sunday, May 22, 6:00 am PDT: Prayer Gathering from Uganda
As oil companies continue to pursue the construction of the East Africa Crude Oil Pipeline and the destruction of creation, Ugandans will host a Laudato Si’ Mass, restore creation by planting trees, and listen to the cry of the Earth.
Monday, May 23, 1:00 am PDT: No More Biodiversity Collapse: Rebalancing Social Systems With Nature
Broadcast live from the Australian Catholic University in Rome, Father Joshtrom Kureethadam of the Vatican will lead a dynamic conversation centered on raising Indigenous voices ahead of the United Nations biodiversity conference later this year.
Tuesday, May 24, 12:00 am PDT: Empowering ECO-mmunity: Embracing the poor
Broadcast live from the Metropolitan-Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, or the Manila Cathedral, communities throughout the Philippines will partner with the Archdiocese of Manila for this daylong event that will inspire all to accelerate their response to the cry of the poor.
Wednesday, May 25, 6:00 am PDT: Fossil Fuels, Violence, and the Climate Crisis
World-renowned professor and author Jeffrey D. Sachs will lead an urgent conversation about how faith-based institutions can lead the way to a cleaner and safer future by divesting from fossil fuels.
Thursday, May 26, 6:30 am PDT: Faith-Consistent Investing—Living Laudato Si”
Led by FaithInvest, this innovative event will engage Catholic institutional investors in a conversation about ethical investing and how they can ensure their assets are in line with Laudato Si’. Broadcast live from Wicklow, Ireland, this event also will feature the special launch of the Laudato Si’ Action Platform Investor Hub.
Friday, May 27, 5:00 am PDT: Sneak Peek: Feature Documentary on Laudato Si’
Footage from The Invitation, a new feature-length documentary film on Laudato Si’, will be shown to the general public for the first time ever during a live-streaming event. The Invitation will have its global release later this year. Please note: because this footage is not yet released, the event will not be recorded and clips will not be available after the event. Advance registration is required at this link.
Saturday, May 28, 12:00 pm PDT: Laudato Si’ Festival
The Laudato Si’ Festival live from Assisi will showcase Catholic artists from across the globe who are using their talents to raise awareness about the need to care for our common home.
Sunday, May 29, 6:00 am PDT: Laudato Si’ Week Closing Prayer Gathering: Community resilience and empowerment as part of our Synodal Journey
Live from Brumadinho, Brazil, Msgr. Vicente de Paula Ferreira will lead a prayer gathering to officially close Laudato Si’ Week 2022. The gathering will carry a special focus on those affected by the climate crisis and bear witness to testimonies from people affected.
