Marking the tenth anniversary of Pope Francis' groundbreaking encyclical Laudato Si’, over 200 universities from the Americas and the Iberian Peninsula will gather in Rio de Janeiro for a transformative meeting focused on environmental action. The event, taking place from 20–24 May 2025 at the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio), will serve as a major precursor to the upcoming COP30 summit in Belém, Brazil.

This Second Synodal Meeting of University Presidents for the Care of Our Common Home seeks to promote a new model of global collaboration grounded in listening, shared discernment, and concrete action against the socio-environmental crisis. Building on the legacy of the first meeting, "Organizing Hope," held at the Vatican in 2023, this Rio summit amplifies Pope Francis’ vision of a Church and academia united in safeguarding creation.

Supported by the Pontifical Commission for Latin America through its “Building Bridges” initiative, the gathering reflects a decade of sustained global impact by Laudato Si’. The encyclical’s call for an “integral ecology” remains profoundly relevant amid escalating climate threats, biodiversity loss, and environmental degradation. The event also celebrates the synergy between universities, Church institutions, civil society, and governments in crafting climate-resilient solutions.

The meeting draws inspiration from the four dreams expressed in the post-synodal exhortation Querida Amazonía—social, cultural, ecological, and ecclesial. Each day of the summit will explore themes such as equitable financial systems, technology and biodiversity, and global cooperation for sustainable development. These discussions will follow a model of “community social discernment,” producing policy proposals to be submitted at COP30.

Among the key goals of the event are: fostering dialogue between academia and both public and private sectors, bolstering inter-university networks focused on climate action, and advancing commitments toward a just transition. There will also be efforts to reflect on the real-world influence of Laudato Si’ across education, policy, and public consciousness.

Endorsed by key bodies including CELAM, AUSJAL, Caritas Latin America, the Brazilian government, and international funders like Porticus and CAF, the event underscores the urgency of coordinated response. As CELAM’s campaign warns, “life hangs by a thread”—making collaboration across sectors imperative.

The gathering will culminate with a public celebration at the foot of Christ the Redeemer on 24 May, commemorating a decade of Laudato Si’ and launching a renewed global mission to care for our Common Home. With the shadow of climate collapse looming, this synodal moment calls for bold leadership, rooted in faith, reason, and collective action—ensuring that universities become catalysts for the hope the planet so desperately needs.