10-hour online vigil set for Laudato Si’s 10th anniversary

A contemplative online vigil is scheduled to mark one decade of Pope Francis’ encyclical on environment care, Laudato Si’.

Organized by the Laudato Si’ Movement, the event is set on January 25 and will run for ten hours, with each hourly session focusing on a quote from the encyclical.

The online vigil will feature silent reflections, readings from inspiring texts, listening to sacred melodies, and contemplation through images.

According to the Laudato Si’ Movement, contemplation “allows us to open to the cries of the earth and poor, by increasing our capacity to be with the suffering of others.”

“Contemplation finally helps us to hear Creation’s call to us to respond to the healing of our earth by quieting the mind to better discern what is ours to do,” they said.

Moreover, they have underlined that “grounding in contemplation gives us strength and peace throughout the breakthrough year of action in 2025.”

The online vigil will take place through Zoom. It is scheduled to begin at 7:00 pm in Manila time and 12:00 noon in Rome time, with different sessions happening for each succeeding hour.

Participants may either join for the whole ten hours or join any hour of their preference, with the complete list of sessions and topics published on their website.

Published in 2015, Pope Francis’ Laudato Si’ focuses on humanity’s duty to look after the earth, “our common home,” and calls for intense environmental preservation amid the worsening climate crisis.

It also reflects on the relationship of God, humans, and the earth from the perspective of modern times.

The encyclical’s title, which translates to “Praise be to You,” is derived from Saint Francis of Assisi’s “Canticle the of Creatures,” wherein he meditates on the goodness of God’s creation.