Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle led a moving and global prayer gathering/missionary sending that called on all Catholics to begin anew our efforts to spread the Gospel of Creation to every corner of the globe.

With contributions from the Bishop of Assisi Monsignor Domenico Sorrentino, Fr. Michael Perry, a leader of the Franciscan Friars, and Fr. Augusto Zampini of the Vatican, Catholics were showered with encouragement to go and emulate St. Francis of Assisi.

Overlooking St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican experts and GCCM Executive Director Tomás Insua encouraged Catholics to lift the voices of all members of creation and sign the “Healthy Planet, Healthy People” petition at TheCatholicPetition.org.

The petition asks world leaders who will gather at two big UN summits later this year to listen to Pope Francis and establish agreements that will help us repair our common home.

The joyful Laudato Si’ cultural festival “Songs for Creation” also featured musicians from across the globe who gifted the thousands of online observers with their artistic expressions.

What happened: The following Catholic leaders brought the impactful Laudato Si’ Special Anniversary Year to a close and launched the Laudato Si’ Action Platform:

• Cardinal Peter K. A. Turkson, Prefect of the Vatican Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development

• Fr. Joshtrom Isaac Kureethadam, Head of the Vatican’s Ecology and Creation Office

• Sr. Sheila Kinsey, executive co-secretary of the Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation Commission (JPIC) of the International Union of Superiors General

• Laudato Si’ Animator Carolina Bianchi of the Policoro Youth Project of the Italian Episcopal Conference

The Laudato Si’ Action Platform is the next step in our journey to care for our common home. The Vatican-led tool will empower Catholic institutions, communities, and families to implement Laudato Si’.

P.S. GCCM is hiring: Join this movement that’s helping the Church care for creation.