Care for Our Common Home Conference

Recently Pope Francis hosted a conference at the Vatican with representatives from around the world and all walks of life. It marked the third anniversary of Francis' environmental encyclical called Laudato Si: Care for Our Common Home. I led a study group at the time Laudato Si was published and I feel that it is an important and nuanced call to action. Here is the description of the conference:

The Conference intends to assess the impact of Laudato Si’ and envisage the journey ahead. It will unfold following the “See-Judge-Act” trajectory of the encyclical. First of all, in line with the integral ecological approach adopted by Pope Francis, we will look at the crisis of our common home from a holistic perspective so as to hear “both the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor” (LS, 49). We will especially listen to individuals and communities who are the victims of the crisis in basic areas like food security, health and migration, and with special reference among others to children, women, indigenous communities, minorities, and small island states. In a second moment, we will reflect on the criteria to understand and respond in an integral way to the crisis: ethical, economic, financial and political, just to mention a few.


At the conclusion of the conference “lines of action” were developed. These are specific proposals for making progress in achieving Pope Francis’ vision of integral ecology.
The lines of action are:

• Renew the commitment on the Laudato Si’ requests for an urgent radical ecological conversion to take action in the care of creation.
• Raise ambition at COP24 for a just transition to achieve 1.5°C goal and protect the most vulnerable.
• Deepen action among young and indigenous people during the synods on youth and the Amazon, and beyond, to ensure long-lasting ecological justice.
• Encourage financial institutions to support decisions towards an integral ecology by “walking the talk” as a Church, including investments with positive social and environmental impact.
• Engage the faithful in the celebration of the Season of Creation with other Christian churches, to motivate radical conversion and transformative action.

I pray that Christians of all backgrounds, people of other faiths, and all those of good will adopt these lines of action.