Reflecting on 10 Years of Laudato Si: Uganda’s Kampala Catholic Archdiocese, Partners Plan Workshop

Activities of the second day of the workshop will include Holy Mass presided over by Archbishop Paul Ssemogerere, the Local Ordinary of Kampala Archdiocese.

After the Holy Mass, there will be a keynote note address on Laudato Si, followed by speeches from selected religious and government officials, as well as testimonies. 

There will also be an exhibition of items and tools developed to preserve Mother Earth, the organizers say, and add, “The Archbishop of Kampala, therefore, invites you to be part of this event so that together, we can renew the commitment to care for our common home and to respond to the urgent cries of the Earth and the poor.”

Laudato Si’, which means “Praise be to you” in medieval Italian, is the second encyclical of Pope Francis, officially released on 18 June 2015. The title comes from St. Francis of Assisi’s “Canticle of the Creatures,” which praises God for creation.

Pope Francis who is said to have consulted scientists, theologians, Bishops, and experts from around the world began drafting Laudato Si’ early in his papacy, influenced by the urgency of the global environmental crisis, climate change, and widespread ecological degradation.

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The document became the first papal encyclical dedicated entirely to care for the environment, calling for an "integral ecology" that respects both human dignity and the natural world.

The encyclical links environmental issues to economic inequality, social injustice, and spiritual emptiness. Pope Francis calls for a global response that involves political reform, ethical reflection, and a transformation of lifestyles.

The document is said to have influenced the UN Climate Summit (COP21) in Paris in the same year it was released where it played a significant role in shaping global conversations leading up to the summit. Global faith leaders, including Catholic bishops and interfaith networks, used the document to advocate for strong climate action at COP21.

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.