During his visit to Timor-Leste , Laudato Si’ Movement’s Timor-Leste Chapter showed Pope Francis that “the seeds he planted in his encyclical Laudato Si’, On Care for Our Common Home, are growing strongly” in the Asian country.
The young Isaura Baptista Barros, co-founder and national coordinator of the Chapter, had the opportunity to write a testimony that reached a newspaper in the United States; the National Catholic Reporter.
“For us, this is an opportunity to let the Holy Father know that the Catholics of Southeast Asia, particularly the young Timorese, are united in favor of an integral ecology,” she says in the article.
Read Isaura’s full testimonial here
Mentioning the environmental challenges facing the island nation, Isaura describes the worrisome situation due to cyclones, floods and other weather disasters. However, she notes, “I know firsthand that youth leadership is important,” as youth make up 70% of the population.
“Many of us young Timorese have found hope in our faith and, in particular, in Francis’ messages.”
For the Pope’s visit, coinciding with the Season of Creation, the Timor-Leste Chapter launched the “A Tree for the Pope” campaign, which encourages people to plant a tree in honor of the Holy Father’s leadership.