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 to ecological justice. Pope Francis called for “ecological conversion,” urging humanity to recognize its interconnectedness with Creation and to reject 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 highlighted the profound relationship between ecological justice and nonviolence. The tenth anniversary of Laudato Si’ invites us to deepen our commitment to these interconnected principles, fostering justice and sustainability through the power of organized, strategic, and compassionate nonviolent action.

The Cry of the Earth and the Cry of the Poor

Pope Francis emphasized, “How inseparable concern for nature, justice for the poor, commitment to society, and inner peace are” (Laudato Si’, 10). This connection is evident in communities directly suffering the impacts of environmental destruction. Indigenous peoples, rural farmers, and marginalized urban communities bear the brunt 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 territory.

Active nonviolence has emerged as a fundamental response to these challenges. Communities that resist deforestation, oppose extractive industries, and advocate for environmental sustainability do so through nonviolent organizing, legal action, and international solidarity. The indigenous community of Condoraque in Peru, for example, successfully halted the environmental destruction caused by mining operations through peaceful resistance and legal advocacy, demanding reparations and accountability. Their victory is a testament to the power of organized nonviolent action to confront environmental injustice.

Nonviolence as a Path to a Laudato Si’ Future

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

One of the key principles of nonviolent action is resistance to unjust systems, without abandoning dialogue and reconciliation. This applies directly to environmental movements, where activists seek to hold governments and corporations accountable without resorting to the very destructive tactics they denounce. Pope Paul VI’s call for a “civilization of love” (Laudato Si’, 231) highlights the importance of addressing 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 in building a future Laudato Si’ based on nonviolence. As an active participant in the Laudato Si’ Platform for Action, Pax Christi International is committed to fostering ecological conversion within faith communities around the world. This platform offers a framework for integrating sustainability into all aspects of life, promoting a transition from consumerism, militarization, and exploitative economies to a culture of care, simplicity, and peace.

Nonviolence is essential to achieving the seven goals of the Laudato Si’ Platform for Action, 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 policies, and fostering community resilience. These goals require a radical transformation in the way we relate to one another as human beings and to the planet.

The Urgency of Action: We Enter a Decisive Decade

The next 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 deepen. Without systemic changes, both environmental and social crises will intensify, generating more violence in the form of displacement, conflicts over resources, and economic marginalization.

However, the principles of nonviolence offer a hopeful path forward. Nonviolent resistance to environmental degradation is already bearing fruit around the world. Movements led by Indigenous peoples 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 citizenship approach is not only ethical, but also effective in achieving lasting change.

As we commemorate the tenth anniversary of the Encyclical Laudato Si’, Pax Christi International reaffirms that the call to ecological conversion and nonviolence is stronger than ever. Whether through community activism, policy advocacy, or changes in our lifestyles, 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, but between nonviolence and nonexistence. The same applies to our relationship with Creation.

Martha Inés Romero, Secretary General, Pax Christi International