Welcome to the Second Synodal Meeting of University Presidents!
The goal of this gathering is to promote a synodal proposal that encourages listening, collective discernment, and concrete action in response to the socio-environmental crisis.
This year marks the tenth anniversary of a historic document within the Papal Magisterium, the encyclical Laudato Si’. The document has had a profound impact on the Catholic Church, global society, and the scientific community, remaining fully relevant today amidst the global socio-environmental crisis.
Universities for the Care of Our Common Home
This milestone has led to the convocation of the Second Synodal Meeting of University Presidents for the Care of Our Common Home, with representatives from North, Central, and South America, as well as the Iberian Peninsula. The gathering will take place from 20-24 May 2025 at the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio), aiming to solidify the commitment of universities in promoting environmental stewardship.
Organized by the University Network for the Care of the Common Home (RUC), the event is supported by the Pontifical Commission for Latin America (PCAL) through the Building Bridges initiative. This meeting follows up on the first gathering called “Organizing Hope” held in 2023 at the Vatican with the participation of Pope Francis.
In Light of COP30
Coordinating with the tenth anniversary of Laudato Si’ is the upcoming COP30, which will also be held in Brazil, specifically in Belém. In this context, PUC-Rio will host representatives from academia, government, the Church, and multilateral organizations, aiming to develop a synodal proposal that fosters listening, collective discernment, and concrete action in the face of the socio-environmental crisis. This marks an opportunity to continue the vision of Pope Leo XIV, who advocates building bridges for peace and sustainable development.
Supporting institutions include the Dicastery for Culture and Education, the Association of Jesuit Universities of Latin America, the Latin American and Caribbean Episcopal Council, Caritas Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Government of Brazil. Among other sponsors are Porticus, the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF), and the Organization of Ibero-American States (OEI).
The Four Dreams of “Querida Amazonía”
The gathering is inspired by the four dreams Pope Francis outlined in the Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation “Querida Amazonia”: social, cultural, ecological, and ecclesial. On the final day, a public commemorative event will be held at Christ the Redeemer to celebrate a decade of Laudato Si’.
Urgent and Coordinated Responses
As highlighted by CELAM’s awareness campaign, the socio-environmental crisis calls for urgent, coordinated responses from churches, governments, civil society, and academia. It reflects the influence of Laudato Si’ and emphasizes the role of universities in generating knowledge, forming sustainability-minded leaders, and advancing climate research networks.
Community Discernment Ahead of COP30
The four-day event will focus on a new global financial structure, dialogue for human dignity, biodiversity and technology, and building bridges for sustainable development. The methodology emphasizes dialogue and shared decision-making, with university representatives drafting proposals for COP30 in Belém’s Blue Zone.
First published on 24 May 2015, Laudato Si’ addresses critical global challenges and advocates for a new sustainable economic model, global governance for environmental protection, and citizen participation in ecological struggles.
Through Laudato Si’, Pope Francis aims for a paradigm shift that respects nature and social justice, promotes interreligious and scientific dialogue, and combats environmental denialism with scientific data and urgent action proposals. This encyclical remains a cornerstone of global ecological awareness, championing integral ecology for the well-being of the planet and humanity.
