Armenian Caritas launched a number of trainings and a  tree-planting project to embody Pope Francis’ vision of integral human ecology in the encyclical Laudato Si’: On Care for Our Common Home.

Following Pope Francis’ invitation to join Laudato Si’ Week, Catholics everywhere will reflect and prepare for action on 16-24 May. Armenian Caritas, as a member of the Caritas Internationalis confederation and Caritas Europa, joined the week. Fr Hovsep Galstyan, assistant Priest of Armenian Caritas responsible for the implementation of Catholic Social Teaching in Armenian Caritas, led a number of trainings on Laudato Si’. Each day of the week a post on social media  shared the hope that  together, through action and faith, we can solve the ecological crisis. Over the week, trainings covered topics such as eco-spirituality, sustainability, advocacy, and social action.

During the week, with the assistance of Armenian Caritas and within the framework of Pope Francis’ Laudato Si’ Week global activities, on the feast of the Ascension of the Lord, a tree planting event was organised by the volunteer young people of the communities of Bavra, Sizavet and Ghazanchi, with their parish priest Fr. Hovsep Galstyan. In the three communities, in the yards of churches and the Youth Development Center of Ghazanchi the young volunteers planted 120 decorative trees. Many of these young volunteers actively participate not only in the projects of Armenian Caritas implemented in these communities but also in the Catholic youth associations and other community development projects. The young people are committed to care for the newly planted trees seeing them as a guarantee for the green and clean future of their communities, as well as a nice expression of their love towards the creation of the Lord.

The fifth anniversary of Laudato Si’, in the context of COVID-19 brings to us the key message of Pope Francis, that ecological conversion has to take place now, before it is too late.