Church leaders, educators, and advocates will gather in Quezon City this September for the Laudato Si’ Summit and Festival 2025, commemorating the 10th anniversary of Pope Francis’ encyclical on the environment, Laudato Si’: On Care for Our Common Home.

With the theme “Wellsprings of Hope in Schools and the Church for our Common Home,” the event will run from September 4 to 6 at Ateneo de Manila University. 

It is jointly organized by Ateneo, Caritas Philippines, Living Laudato Si’ Philippines, the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines, and the Sustainable Development Solutions Network.

Mass, keynote, and school initiatives

The summit will open with a Mass led by Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines. The keynote address will be delivered by Bishop Gerardo Alminaza, vice president of Caritas Philippines and lead convenor of the Laudato Si’ Convergence, on “Commemorating 10 years of Laudato Si’ and Current Directions of the Catholic Church”.

Plenary discussions will focus on how schools and parishes are responding to ecological challenges. Rodne Galicha, executive director of Living Laudato Si’ Philippines, will present the Laudato Si’ Schools Framework, while Antonio Carlos Maralit of De La Salle University will share survey results on ecological initiatives in schools and the Church.

Ecological conversion and education

Sessions across two days will tackle green finance, sustainable operations, ecological spirituality, and advocacy for integral ecology. Separate panels will highlight ecological education in basic and higher education, religious formation, and community engagement.

Organizers expect at least 200 participants, including administrators, educators, students, and parish leaders from across the country.

Festival and climate justice dialogue

The summit will culminate in the Laudato Si’ Festival on September 6, featuring eco-tours of the Ateneo Biodiversity Area, Mt. Purro Nature Reserve, Masungi Georeserve, and Laudato Si’ Farm in Tagaytay. The program also includes talks on ecological issues such as the Kaliwa Dam project, the circular economy, and displacement in Balik Bugsuk.

A key highlight is the Global Ethical Stocktake Dialogue, part of the COP30 Presidency’s initiative to bring ethical and grassroots perspectives into global climate negotiations. The dialogue will feed into international discussions at the UN climate talks later this year.

The three-day gathering will close with a Laudato Si’ Mass on September 6.

Reference:

John Leo Algo

Deputy Executive Director for Programs and Campaigns

Living Laudato Si’ Philippines

+639278431099