From October 1 to 3, as part of the 10th anniversary of the encyclical Laudato Si’, the Raising Hope Conference will be held. It will be a global event that will bring together agents of social change to discern together “what the Spirit is saying to the Church” in these times of ecological crisis.
This event, which is supported by multiple Catholic organizations, will give voice to more than 25 spiritual leaders, scientists, indigenous communities, and activists from around the world, gathered in Rome.
The conference will be broadcast online with simultaneous translation, offering a unique opportunity to hear diverse perspectives on the impact of Laudato Si’ and explore concrete paths for action.
Who will be the panelists?
There are more than 25 confirmed panelists on the conference website. Today we would like to introduce you to five of them, as a small sample of the quality and diversity of voices that will be present. They are not listed in any specific order, but they all share a deep motivation: to raise their voices in defense of our common home::
Pope Leo XIV
Pope Leo XIV, recently elected as Peter’s successor, will be responsible for opening the conference with a liturgical celebration in the Laudato Si’ Garden on October 1. Since the beginning of his pontificate, he has stated that caring for our Common Home is one of the priorities of his teaching. In his homily at the Mass for the Care of Creation, he asked us to pray “for the conversion of those who do not yet see the urgency of climate change” and reaffirmed that caring for the Earth is inseparable from love of neighbor. His presence is not only symbolic: it represents a continuation of the legacy of Francis, who left us the gift of the encyclical Laudato Si’ and the apostolic exhortation Laudate Deum.
Cardinal Michael Czerny, S.J.
This Canadian Jesuit is the prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development. He has been one of the clearest and most committed voices in articulating integral ecology from Rome. When Laudate Deum was published, the cardinal urged us to undergo an urgent conversion: “It is not too late, but it is almost too late. That is why we must act now.” Czerny insists that the ecological crisis is also a spiritual and moral crisis, and that we urgently need to transform our lifestyles, our economies, and our policies.
Dr. Lorna Gold
An economist, theologian, and executive director of the Laudato Si’ Movement, she has spent years promoting a lay commitment to caring for our common home: from campaigns to divest from fossil fuels to community action networks. Her participation in the film The Letter—produced by the Vatican and the Laudato Si’ Movement—showed her intimate testimony as a mother and believer, advocating for a collective and profound ecological conversion.
Patricia Gualinga
Defender of the Amazon and Kichwa indigenous leader from the Amazon region of Ecuador. Former spokesperson for the Sarayaku community and president of the “End of the Fossil Fuel Era” tribunal. In 2012, she led the historic Sarayaku Case, winning a ruling from the Inter-American Court against oil exploitation in her territory. She has led mobilizations such as the March of Amazonian Women. In a Laudato Si’ Movement video, she speaks clearly: “We protect nature not because it is fashionable, but because we cannot live without it. Our lives depend on it.”
Austen Ivereigh
British writer, journalist, Vatican analyst, authorized biographer of Francis (The Great Reformer, Wounded Shepherd) and co-author with the Pope of Let Us Dream. He has emphasized in international media that Laudato Si’ is Francis’s “flagship teaching” on climate change and stressed that its message “compels us to act not only as citizens, but as believers.”
Register and participate online
The Raising Hope Conference is open to the public and free of charge, via streaming. Registration is now available on the website raisinghope.earth. We invite you to register to receive the access links. Don’t miss this opportunity to listen to these leaders and be inspired by their message of hope and action for our Common Home!