May 2025 marks the tenth anniversary of Laudato Si’, Pope Francis’ groundbreaking encyclical on the environment. At Pax Christi International, we recognize this occasion as an opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to active nonviolence as the most effective and ethical path toward ecological justice. Pope Francis called for an “ecological conversion,” urging humanity to acknowledge its interconnectedness with Creation and to reject the destructive systems that degrade both the Earth and human dignity. Ten years later, Laudato Si’ remains a prophetic and urgent call to action.

At the heart of Laudato Si’ is the principle that care for Creation and care for humanity are inseparable. As a global Catholic peace movement, Pax Christi International has long emphasized the deep relationship between ecological justice and nonviolence. The tenth anniversary of Laudato Si’ invites us to deepen our commitment to these interwoven principles, fostering justice and sustainability through the power of strategic, compassionate, and organized,  nonviolent action.

The Cry of the Earth and the Cry of the Poor

Pope Francis highlights how “inseparable the bond is between concern for nature, justice for the poor, commitment to society, and interior peace” (Laudato Si’, 10). This connection is powerfully evident in communities suffering the direct impacts of environmental destruction. Indigenous peoples, rural farmers, and marginalized urban communities bear the worst consequences of climate change, deforestation, and resource extraction—often without having significantly contributed to these crises. Their struggle is not only for survival but also for recognition, justice, and the right to live in harmony with their land.

Active nonviolence has emerged as a critical response to these challenges. Communities resisting deforestation, opposing extractive industries, and advocating for sustainable development do so through nonviolent organizing, legal action, and international solidarity. The Indigenous community of Condoraque in Peru, for example, successfully halted environmental destruction caused by mining operations through peaceful resistance and legal advocacy, demanding remediation and accountability. Their victory is a testament to the power of organized nonviolent action in confronting environmental injustice.

Nonviolence as a Path to a Laudato Si’ Future

Pope Francis describes nonviolence as “a style of politics for peace” that rejects violence while actively promoting justice. The same principles apply to our relationship with the earth. Just as war and systemic oppression devastate human societies, extractive industries, pollution, and climate change constitute violence against the natural world. Laudato Si’ challenges us to recognize that this violence is rooted in economic and cultural structures that prioritize profit over people and the planet.

One of the key principles of nonviolent action is resistance to unjust systems while remaining committed to dialogue and reconciliation. This applies directly to ecological movements, where activists seek to hold governments and corporations accountable without resorting to the same destructive tactics they oppose. Pope Paul VI’s call for a “civilization of love” (Laudato Si’, 231) underscores the importance of approaching ecological struggles not only with urgency but also with a commitment to solidarity, compassion, and long-term transformation.

The Role of the Church and the Global Community

The Catholic Church has a fundamental role to play in fostering a Laudato Si’ future rooted in nonviolence. As an active participant in the Laudato Si’ Action Platform, Pax Christi International is committed to fostering ecological conversion within faith communities worldwide. This platform offers a framework for integrating sustainability into every aspect of life, promoting a shift away from consumerism, militarization, and exploitative economics toward a culture of care, simplicity, and peace.

Nonviolence is essential to achieving the seven goals of the Laudato Si’ Action Platform, which include responding to the cry of the earth, responding to the cry of the poor, adopting sustainable lifestyles, engaging in ecological education, embracing ecological spirituality, advocating for environmental policy, and fostering community resilience. These goals require a radical transformation of how we relate to one another as human beings and to the planet itself.

The Urgency of Action: Entering A Decisive Decade

The coming decade will be crucial for the future of humanity and Creation. Scientists warn that the window for mitigating climate change is rapidly closing, while global inequalities continue to widen. Without systemic change, both environmental and social crises will deepen, leading to increased violence in the form of displacement, resource conflicts, and economic marginalization.

However, the principles of nonviolence offer a hopeful way forward. Nonviolent resistance to environmental degradation is already yielding results across the globe. Indigenous-led movements have halted deforestation, faith communities have divested from fossil fuels, and grassroots activists have successfully pressured governments to adopt more sustainable policies. These efforts demonstrate that a nonviolent approach is not only ethical but effective in achieving lasting change.

As we commemorate the tenth anniversary of Laudato Si’, Pax Christi International reaffirms that the call to ecological conversion and nonviolence is louder than ever. Whether through community activism, policy advocacy, or changes in our daily lives, each of us has a role to play in building a world where both people and the planet can flourish.

As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. warned, the choice is no longer between violence and nonviolence—it is between nonviolence and nonexistence. The same applies to our relationship with Creation. 

Martha Inés Romero . Secretary General, Pax Christi International