“We are learning from Africa”: Vatican Official Lauds Church in Africa’s Conservation, Human Dignity Initiatives

Johannesburg, 18 August, 2025 / 8:28 PM

The Secretary of the Vatican Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development (PIHD) has lauded the Church in Africa for spearheading initiatives towards conservation and human dignity.

Speaking at the Group of 20 (G20) Interfaith Forum (IF20) in Cape Town, South Africa, Sr. Alessandra Smerilli noted that initiatives established in Africa to promote ecological responsibility and social justice are already providing inspiration to others, including the Holy See's ongoing efforts to develop a model Integral Ecology centre.

“The truth is, we are learning from Africa in building this place,” Sr. Smerilli said, and acknowledging communities in Africa that have already launched similar initiatives added that her Dicastery is “especially modelling Uganda’s Bethany Land Institute,” the 95-acre facility established in 2012 in the country’s Kasana-Luweero Catholic Diocese.

She expressed the hope that the Vatican Integral Ecology facility, whose development her Dicastery is tasked with overseeing, would become “a place of inspiration and a demonstration of integral ecology,” as envisioned by the late Pope Francis.

“I think you know that since he (Pope Francis) began his pontificate, he never made use of the Popes’ summer residence,” she said in her August 14 presentation, recalling how the late Pontiff set aside part of the land to be opened to all as “a sign and model of integral ecology.”

The 50-year-old Italian member of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (FMA) also known as Salesian Sisters of St. John Bosco acknowledged the Holy Father’s support for the project, saying, “Imagine Pope Leo XIV endorsing the project and even taking it a step further, keeping a small portion of this land for himself, and while he is there, allowing people to continue to run the place.”

This commitment to the integral ecology initiative by both Pope Leo XIV and his predecessor, she said, shows that the facility is not only meant to serve as a model project but also as an inspiration to the global leaders, demonstrating that concrete action for the common good is possible.

“Imagine Pope Leo XIV inviting 19 heads of state and telling them, ‘I’m doing this—what are you doing for the environment?’” the Secretary of the Dicastery for PIHD said, noting that the humble example of the two Church leaders in sharing space and supporting ecological initiatives should motivate G20 leaders to reflect and take immediate action on critical global challenges.

In her August 14 presentation, Sr. Smerilli also reflected on the plight of migrants and highlighted the need for coordinated action in responding to the global migration crisis.

She recalled the October 2013 Lampedusa boat tragedy, off the North African coast, which resulted in the death of nearly all on board, saying the tragic incident caught the attention of the then newly elected Pope Francis, who invoked it as a moral call to action.

“One of those who heard this story was the newly elected Pope Francis,” said Sr. Smerilli, noting that most of the victims, primarily from Somalia and Eritrea “were fleeing social unrest, political persecution, and human rights abuses, hoping to find shelter and protection on European shores or elsewhere, where they could live with dignity, hope, and peace.”

The Vatican official recognized Church’s ongoing efforts, saying that her Dicastery has been organizing meetings along migration routes, bringing together Bishops from both departure and destination countries to share knowledge about journeys migrants undertake.

“Sometimes, for example, Bishops from the U.S. are not aware where the journey begins, what these people face along the route, and why and how they end up in certain places. Bishops from the departure countries, don't know where these people are going,” she said, emphasizing that the Church must be seen as one universal body accompanying migrants at every stage.

“When we ask how many churches migrants should encounter along their journey, the answer must be one: a single Church able to accompany, protect, welcome, and provide opportunities,” said Sr. Smerilli in her presentation on August 14, the final day of the five-day interfaith forum held ahead of the November G20 Summit.