Catholic Environmentalist in Kenya Lauds Growth of Global Movement Birthed from Pope Francis’ Laudato Si’ Document

The Laudato Si’ Movement official said that the movement has certified over 20,000 leaders across 140 countries, with approximately 80 chapters globally, including more than 30 in Africa, all dedicated to bringing the vision of Laudato Si’ to life.

“There has also been engagement on the Laudato Si’ Action Platform, which is a tool for institutions to take action on integral ecology, which has touched the hearts of over 20 million people so far,” Ashley told ACI Africa during the April 23 interview.

She added, “There are so many schools, so many prayer gardens, so many centers that are geared towards Laudato Si, and what happens now is that the work continues. The work continues because creation care has been part of our faith for a very long time.”

Ashley noted that the Laudato Si’ Action Platform builds upon a long-standing legacy of the Church and its social teaching on humanity’s relationship with the environment.

“We're confident that we shall continue to protect creation and continue growing in momentum in terms of Laudato Si and the ecological crisis, and that we have achieved so much, and there's still so much more to do,” she said.

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She emphasized, “We shall continue living this legacy of Pope Francis, and we thank him for the Encyclical Letter. We also thank him that he gave us the name Laudato Si’ in 2020, and our movement and other organizations will continue to keep this message moving forward.”

The Kenyan environmentalist said that the Laudato Si document has been a symbol of hope, particularly across the African continent.

Ashley described the Encyclical Letter as “a meaningful opportunity—a sound opportunity to reflect on the journey ahead, acknowledge the progress made thus far, and appreciate the remarkable leadership Pope Francis has offered.”

“I hope it would also be good to speak about the root cause of the climate crisis, which is fossil fuels,” she said, highlighting Pope Francis’ strong advocacy against fossil fuels, as also reflected in his October 2023 Apostolic Exhortation on the climate crisis, Laudate Deum.

She also recalled the 2023 visit of Pope Francis to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where he spoke about the plunder of the African continent, the suffering caused by extractivism, the urgent need to decarbonize, and his advocacy for the adoption of solar energy.

“All of these things are legacies that we can uphold, that we can continue to deepen in our institutions and our personal lives,” the Laudato Si’ Movement official told ACI Africa.

Silas Mwale Isenjia is a Kenyan journalist with a great zeal and interest for Catholic Church related communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Linguistics, Media and Communication from Moi University in Kenya. Silas has vast experience in the Media production industry. He currently works as a Journalist for ACI Africa.