The main objective of the study was to identify initiatives inspired by Laudato Si' that have been implemented by actors of the Church in Europe from 2016 to the present. The research was conducted by a consortium of Catholic universities: St Mary's University Twickenham, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (Milan), Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Universitat Ramon Llull, Hrvatsko Katoličko Sveučilište and EMD Ecole de Management Marseille.
A special press conference organised by ELSiA to present the results of the study will be held online on 20 May, at 11, (UTC +1) during Laudato Si' Week 2024. It will be attended by bishops, diocesan delegates for Laudato Si', university representatives, members of congregations and Europeans committed to bringing Laudato Si' to life in Europe. The registration form is available here.
The following will speak:
- Dr. Silvia Riva, of St Mary University;
- Archbishop Éric de Moulins-Beaufort, Archbishop of Reims and President of the French Episcopal Conference;
- Archbishop Anthony Onyemuche Ekpo, Undersecretary of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development;
- Archbishop Mariano Crociata, President of COMECE, Bishop of Latina-Terracina-Sezze-Priverno;
- Archbishop Martin Hayes, Laudato Si' Working Group of the Irish Bishops' Conference.
The hour-long event will offer the opportunity to reflect and share the key findings and results of the survey, to showcase some of the inspiring practices and projects identified in the survey, and to bring the issue of climate change to the attention of European Catholics in the media, two weeks before the European elections.
Guided by the words of Pope Francis, on the occasion of the recent Message for the Day of Creation (2023): "Like a river basin with its many small and large tributaries, the Church is a communion of countless local Churches, religious communities and associations that draw from the same common waters. Each source adds its unique and irreplaceable contribution, until all flow together into the vast ocean of God’s loving mercy” - there is a shared hope that the results of a living Laudato Si' can focus Catholics' attention on “caring for our common home ”just weeks before the European elections.
