Vatican City: Marking the tenth anniversary of Pope Francis’ groundbreaking ecological encyclical Laudato Si’, Pope Leo XIV on Wednesday urged global leaders, believers, and communities to embrace a deeper “conversion of heart” in the fight against environmental degradation. Speaking at the Raising Hope Conference, organized by the Laudato Si’ Movement, the Pope said humanity would ultimately be held accountable before God for how it cared for creation and for one another.
Pope Leo expressed gratitude for the enduring influence of Laudato Si’, describing it as one of the most transformative documents of recent Catholic teaching. He noted that the encyclical’s call to “care for our common home” has reshaped schools, parishes, universities, and social movements, while also shaping international dialogue.
“Its impact has extended beyond the Church to global summits, interreligious forums, business circles, and even academic and bioethical studies,” he observed. “Above all, the phrase ‘care for our common home’ has become a shared language across cultures and continents.”
While celebrating the achievements of the past decade, the Pope emphasized that the threats outlined by Pope Francis ten years ago are even more urgent today. He described these challenges as not only scientific and political, but deeply spiritual.
“The heart is where the deepest searching takes place, where ultimate identity is found, and where decisions are forged,” Pope Leo explained. “Only by returning to the heart can we begin an authentic ecological conversion.”
He urged believers to move beyond data and policies, calling for personal and collective change: “From environmental discourse to lifestyles inspired by faith and love of God.”
Echoing Pope Francis’ reflection on Saint Francis of Assisi, Pope Leo stressed that ecological concern cannot be separated from social justice and inner renewal. Care for the Earth, he said, must go hand in hand with care for the poor, migrants, indigenous peoples, and vulnerable families.
He pointed to upcoming international gatherings, including COP30 and the UN 2026 Water Conference, as opportunities for leaders to listen to “the cries of the Earth and the cries of the poor.”
The Pope concluded with a sober reflection: “When the time comes, God will ask us if we have cultivated and cared for the world He created, and whether we have cared for our brothers and sisters. What will our answer be?”
His words served as both a spiritual challenge and a moral call to action, reminding participants that climate justice is not only an environmental or political task, but a deeply human and religious responsibility.