RADAR • LAUDATO SI’ ACTION PLATFORM

Things Can Change

BY Fr Efrem Tresoldi | Comboni Missionary, Johannesburg

One year ago, Pope Francis inaugurated the Laudato Si’ Special Anniversary Year (LSSAY), in the midst of a COVID-19 pandemic, which has disproportionately affected poor and vulnerable communities. Concluding the year, he, together with the Vatican Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development (DPIHD), launched the Laudato Si’ Action Platform (LSAP)—a tool for transformation, a seven-year journey—inviting all Catholic institutions, communities, and families to achieve total sustainability during this decade through the implementation of the Laudato Si’ Seven Goals.

Laudato Si’ (LS) has provided the moral and spiritual compass urgently needed to recover from the pandemic and to chase the dream of a better world for generations to come.

Launching the platform

“Let’s cultivate respect for the gifts of the Earth and creation, let’s finally inaugurate an eco-sustainable lifestyle and society. We have the opportunity to prepare a better tomorrow for all. From God’s hands we have received a garden, we cannot leave a desert to our children,” Pope Francis said.

At the launching of the platform in the Vatican, Cardinal Peter K.A. Turkson, Prefect for the DPIHD, underlined: “Our human and non-human family, in its entirety, is in great danger, and we no longer have time to wait or to postpone action. It is of fundamental importance to limit the increase in global average temperature to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, since exceeding it would, and already does have disproportionate, catastrophic global impacts.”

The Justice, Peace & Integrity of Creation Commission of the Superior Generals of male and female congregations worldwide, commented on the initiative of the Pope: “The LSAP is a unique collaboration between the Vatican, an international coalition of Catholic organizations, and ‘all men and women of goodwill’ (LS 3). Taking a ground level approach, it is rooted in the strengths and realities of communities around the world, empowering all to take ‘decisive action, here and now’ as we journey towards a better future together (LS 161). Action is urgent and necessary. Our Creator called the human family to be the steward of creation, to practise a new way of living, one that is good, true and beautiful, but we have neglected that call. Our hotter, dirtier, deader planet is increasing the risk of suffering. The most vulnerable suffer above all. At this kairos moment, we are responding to the call for healing in our relationships with God, our neighbours and the Earth itself. Through the LSAP, we are walking the ‘path to renewal’ together (LS 202).” The new platform will guide all Catholics to fully bring LS to life. It includes three elements:

1. Laudato Si’ plans
   It is a map for the journey—as communities, institutions or families—towards integral ecology and the implementation of the LS Seven Goals through a step-by-step guidance methodolgy. It evaluates as well the progress achieved.
   
2. Practical guidance
   It will offer a library of resources and webinars to provide practical, concrete guidance on ways to take concrete actions.
   
3. Resources for communities
   The platform will help communities to be strengthened in their practices, connecting them with other participants who are already taking action and with their inspiring stories.

All involved

Integral ecology demands a journey for all; the LSAP calls for the involvement of seven key sectors: 1, families; 2, parishes and dioceses; 3, educational institutions; 4, healthcare institutions; 5, organizations and groups (lay movements, communities, NGOs, foundations and communication centres); 6, economic sector (workers and businesses, farms and co-operatives); 7, religious communities.

Timeline

In May 2021, at the conclusion of the LSSAY, the DPIHD made a general invitation to the public to pledge commitments towards the LS Plans. In October 2021, on the Feast of St Francis, the process of LS Plans will begin. In 2022, additional programmes and tools including a full library of resources, a calendar of webinars, community-building tools, and more will be launched.
More info: (laudatosiactionplatform.org)