The event on the occasion of the 800th anniversary of the Canticle and the 10th anniversary of the encyclical
ASSISI JUNE 8, 2025 – The Laudato Si’ Jubilee Pilgrimage, a beautiful experience in the footsteps of Saint Francis and Saint Clare, concluded today with our participation in the Jubilee of Movements in Rome with the presence of Pope Leo XIV.
This pilgrimage is designed to enable Animators and members of the Laudato Si’ Movement from around the world to immerse themselves with all their senses in the sacred places of ASSISI Terra Laudato Si’.
The immersion followed the pattern of the three-day Laudato Si’ Retreats, each of which was dedicated to a moment of ecological conversion: contemplating the song of creation, listening to the cry of creation, and welcoming the call to action. And each day was marked by significant stages: the song from the Sanctuary of San Damiano to the hermitage of the prisons; the cry from the Portiuncula, with the former Montedison industrial area, the church of St. Mary Magdalene, the War Cemetery, to the Sacred Tugurium; the action, which chronologically follows the places of Francis and Clare, from Piazza del Comune, with the Plateola, the Chiesa Nuova, the birthplace of St. Clare and the Cathedral of St. Rufino, the Basilica of St. Clare, the Shrine of Renunciation, ending in the Basilica of St. Francis.
The pilgrims, who came from Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Burundi, Cameroun, Canada, Colombia, France, Honduras, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, Spain, the UK and the US, were guided in small groups by Volunteers from the Laudato Si’ Center in Assisi, who receive online training and support, in English, French, Spanish and Italian.
The pilgrimage concluded in Rome, with Adam’s walk in the Eco-Charity Garden of the Sisters of Charity of St. Jeanne Antida Thouret, and the celebration of Pentecost in St. Peter’s Square, presided over by Pope Leo XIV. It was a fitting closing given that Pentecost has such an important role in the history of our Movement, both as the date of the encyclical’s release in 2015 (as May 24 was the Feast of Pentecost that year) and as the date when Pope Francis gave his blessing to our Movement’s decision to adopt the name Laudato Si’ Movement.
In the square, Pope Leo highlighted the ecological significance of this Jubilee Year: “The earth will rest, justice will prevail, the poor will rejoice and peace will return, once we no longer act as predators but as pilgrims. No longer each of us for ourselves, but walking alongside one another. Not greedily exploiting this world, but cultivating it and protecting it, as the Encyclical Laudato Si’ has taught us.”
Throughout the year, more Retreats are planned to continue celebrating the 800th anniversary of the Canticle of the Creatures, as well as the possibility of organizing the spiritual accompaniment of pilgrimages already organized by you (to request support click here). Also, if you have a desire and availability to be a Volunteer for short or medium term in Assisi, you can contact us through this link, and you will be provided with information about the type of service and accommodation conditions.
These days of grace made those who did not yet know them appreciate the stories of the lives of Francis and Clare, which still today, after eight centuries, invite us to live our faith oriented toward the common good and the contemplation of Creation. We hope that these seeds will bear fruits of good.
We await you all to experience new moments of grace in Assisi.
