On 4 November 2026, the Fifth Annual Report of the Laudato Si’ Action Platform (LSAP) was presented at the Holy See Press Office in Rome. The event brought together representatives of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, the UISG, the Laudato Si’ Movement, and local Church leaders to reflect on achievements, challenges, and future priorities.

As the Laudato Si’ Action Platform celebrates its fifth anniversary, the Church reflects on its growing commitment to integral ecology. During the presentation of the Fifth Annual Report, Sr. Roxanne Schares, SSND, UISG Executive Secretary, highlighted the prophetic witness of women religious in responding to the cry of the Earth and the cry of the poor.

Launched in 2021, the Platform helps Catholic communities and institutions translate Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si’ into concrete action. As of September 2026, it had registered 13,652 accounts, including 6,238 institutions and 7,414 families and individuals. Religious congregations have demonstrated a particularly strong commitment, with an estimated 53% of congregations worldwide registered on the Platform.

Women Religious: A Prophetic Presence in the Care of Creation

During the press conference, Sr. Roxanne Schares, SSND, UISG Executive Secretary, emphasized that ecological responsibility is deeply rooted in the vocation and mission of religious life. She presented care for Creation as an expression of love translated into justice, solidarity, and action.

Since 2021, many religious congregations have publicly committed themselves to the journey of ecological conversion, while several thousand sisters have been trained as Laudato Si’ Animators, accompanying their communities, mission partners, and the people they serve.

Sr. Roxanne shared several experiences illustrating how women religious are transforming ecological awareness into concrete action.

In South Korea, the Sisters of Notre Dame joined children and local communities in walking across tidal wetlands threatened with destruction. What began as an experience of prayer, listening, and solidarity developed into a broader initiative of education, awareness-raising, and public witness.

In South Sudan, women religious worked alongside local farmers to recover agricultural knowledge and practices lost during decades of conflict and forced displacement. Their initiative developed into a sustainable agriculture project that strengthens food security, improves nutrition, and promotes dignified livelihoods while protecting the environment.
Through their involvement in education, healthcare, pastoral ministry, and social services, women religious are helping to build what Sr. Roxanne described as a “critical mass capable of bringing about real change.”

Their witness demonstrates that integral ecology goes beyond environmental protection: it also involves defending human dignity, strengthening communities, and promoting justice.

From Commitment to Lasting Transformation

During the presentation, Sr. Alessandra Smerilli, FMA, Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, recalled that Laudato Si’ is not simply a document to be read, but an invitation to personal and communal conversion.

She emphasized that care for Creation is an integral part of Christian life. The Platform supports this commitment through a shared journey of reflection, discernment, planning, and action, adapted to the realities of different communities.

Bishop Allwyn D’Silva, Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus of Bombay, shared experiences from Mumbai, where parishes have introduced rainwater harvesting systems, expanded the use of solar energy, reduced plastic consumption, and promoted biodiversity. He stressed the importance of integrating ecological responsibility into regular pastoral planning to ensure the continuity of these initiatives.

Lorna Gold, Executive Director of the Laudato Si’ Movement, called for greater institutional accountability, emphasizing that ecological conversion must shape decisions concerning energy, investments, education, property management, and governance.
She also highlighted the need to address inequalities that limit participation, particularly among communities in the Global South facing financial, technical, and internet connectivity challenges.

A New Digital Atlas and Future Priorities

One of the main announcements was the launch of a Digital Atlas of Catholic Ecological Action, presented by Alonso de Llanes, Programme Director of the Laudato Si’ Action Platform.
This interactive tool connects participating Catholic institutions with geographical and environmental information, including data on deforestation, emissions, and climate risks. It also enables communities to share their ecological plans and experiences, with their consent, fostering collaboration and mutual learning.

Other priorities include improving the Platform’s accessibility through offline resources, creating a Learning Hub for education and resource-sharing, exploring the responsible use of artificial intelligence, and developing a global network of Digital Missionaries.

The Platform also aims to move beyond simply counting activities to assessing their lasting ecological impact. By 2031, it seeks to reach 50,000 participants, 20,000 Catholic institutions, and representation from 1,000 dioceses.

Journeying Together in Hope

Five years after its launch, the Laudato Si’ Action Platform offers an opportunity to celebrate the progress achieved while renewing the commitment to ecological conversion.
For women religious, this journey is inseparable from their mission of accompanying vulnerable communities, promoting justice, and bearing witness to the interconnectedness of all Creation.

As Sr. Roxanne Schares emphasized, journeying together helps keep hope alive and strengthens the courage needed for prophetic witness.

The UISG encourages religious congregations to deepen their commitment to integral ecology, share their experiences, and strengthen collaboration through the Laudato Si’ Action Platform.

Caring for our common home is a shared vocation and a mission entrusted to all. Through communal discernment, concrete action, and solidarity with the most vulnerable, women religious continue to offer a living witness of hope and responsibility.

Five-Year Report of the Laudato Si’ Action Platform
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKCAR28EzzY&t=5s

Discover the Laudato Si’ Atlas: Connecting Catholic Communities and Ecological Action
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RH_J9Q1H4M