Jakarta — The Vatican has inaugurated a three-day global gathering on the climate crisis and social justice, marking the 10th anniversary of Laudato Si’ and the Paris Agreement. The “Raising Hope” conference, opened by Pope Leo XIV at Castel Gandolfo, brings together over 1,000 participants and 500 delegates from around the world, uniting faith leaders, scientists, activists, and policymakers ahead of COP30 in Belém, Brazil, the Vatican said in a press release on Wednesday, October 1.
A Call for “Ecological Conversion”
In his opening address, Pope Leo XIV reaffirmed the urgency of Laudato Si’’s message: “The challenges identified in Laudato Si’ are in fact even more relevant today than they were 10 years ago. These challenges are of a social and political nature, but first and foremost of a spiritual nature. They call for conversion … We must shift from collecting data to caring and from environmental discourse to an ecological conversion that transforms both personal and communal lifestyles.”
The pontiff urged unity around the principle of Integral Ecology, stressing that “the most effective solutions will not come from individual efforts alone, but above all from major political decisions on the national and international levels.”
Building on Laudato Si’s legacy
Lorna Gold, Executive Director of the Laudato Si’ Movement, highlighted that the conference represents “an unprecedented collaboration” between the Vatican’s Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, Caritas Internationalis, CIDSE, the Focolare Movement, and others. “This collaboration comes just a month before COP30, at a time when humanity urgently needs bold and decisive action,” Gold said.
She announced the launch of the Laudato Si’ 10 Pledge — a collective commitment by faith networks and organisations to be presented at COP30 as the Laudato Si’ Peoples’ Determined Contribution, standing alongside nations’ official climate pledges.
Voices from around the world
Brazil’s Environment Minister Marina Silva praised the Church’s role in driving moral momentum for the energy transition: “It is inconsistent to say that we love the Creator and destroy creation … We already have the technical answers. What’s missing is the ethical commitment to use technology and knowledge to benefit the fight against climate change and inequality.”
Cardinal Jaime Spengler, President of the Latin American Episcopal Council, called for moral courage and trust among nations: “The ecological crisis is also a crisis of trust. The world will not be saved unless nations recover the capacity to believe in one another and assume common responsibilities grounded in justice.”
Former California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger urged practical action and personal responsibility: “Talking is not enough; we must take concrete action… We proved in California that you can protect both the economy and the environment. Change begins with each of us. What have you done?”
From the Pacific, Tuvalu’s Climate Minister Maina Talia delivered a stark warning: “Every time tides rise or a cyclone hits, we risk losing our homes, our churches… For the people of Tuvalu, a 1.5 °C rise is not abstract — it is the difference between life and death.”
Faith, science, and action united
Speakers across traditions — including Muslim scholar Dr. Iyad Abumoghli and climatologist Prof. John Sweeney — called for a “science-policy-spirituality nexus” to embed ethics into environmental governance and for faith communities to “show up in strong numbers” at COP30 to back the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty.
The “Raising Hope” conference closes the Season of Creation and symbolises unity across religions and continents. Over three days, it seeks to translate faith into concrete global commitments — what Pope Leo XIV described as “cultivating and caring for the world created for the benefit of all and for future generations.”
As Laurence Tubiana, CEO of the European Climate Foundation and architect of the Paris Agreement, reflected: “Laudato Si’ changed the global climate conversation by putting justice and dignity at its centre. Today, that message matters more than ever.” (nsh)
Banner photo: Pope Leo XIV (Source: Vatican Media)
