VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis on Sunday invited men and women across the globe to continue to walk the path of environmental and social respect and justice by continuing to heed the cry of the earth and of the poor.
Speaking after the recitation of the Regina Coeli prayer in St Peter’s Square, he reminded the faithful that Monday, 24 May, marks the end of the “Laudato sì Year”, and he thanked the thousands of people who animated the Year with numerous initiatives, projects and events across the world.
Laudato sì Year
Inaugurated on the fifth anniversary of the Pope’s encyclical dedicated to the care of Our Common Home, the Special Laudato sì Anniversary Year featured numerous initiatives, realized in partnership with the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Dignity, NGOs and faith-based groups, with a clear emphasis on “ecological conversion” in “action”. Its aim was to invite everyone to respond to “a peoples’ movement” from below, an alliance of all people of good will, in line with Pope Francis’ plea to “cooperate as instruments of God for the care of creation, each according to his or her own culture, experience, involvements and talents.”
Laudato sì Action Platform
Reiterating that it is a journey to be continued, the Pope announced that “the Laudato sì Action Platform” will immediately kick-off. He explained that the Platform is based on a seven-year action plan “that will guide families, parish and diocesan communities, schools and universities, hospitals, businesses, movements, organizations and religious institutes to adopt sustainable lifestyles.”
The Pope also took the occasion to send his greetings and best wishes to the many Laudato sì Platform “animators” who have received the mandate to spread the Gospel of Creation and take care of our Common Home.
