Launching of the “Season of Creation” 2024 Theme Around the World
"To hope and act with Creation"
Stemming from its belief in the importance of the creation care during all the year, the international Laudato Si’ movement announced, at the beginning of this month, February, the theme of this year’s “Season of Creation,” which is "To hope and act with Creation". It is an encouragement to Christians all over the world to prepare for this international Ecumenical and environmental season that is celebrated between 1 September, the Feast of Creation, and 4 October which coincides with the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi.
The symbol of this year’ “Season of Creation” is "The firstfruits of hope," inspired by the Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Romans (8: 19-25). It emphasizes the importance of clinging to hope despite all the challenges that surround us, especially the environmental ones, and the necessity of working together to protect our common home and responding to the cry of creation.
In its recent statement, the Laudato Si' movement mentioned that “the times we live in demonstrate that we do not relate to the Earth as a gift from our Creator, but as a resource to be used.” It added “Creation groans (Rom 8:22) because of our selfishness and our unsustainable actions that harm it. However, Creation teaches us that hope is present in waiting, in the expectation of a better future (cf. Rom 8:20-21).” Laudato Si’ also stressed that “to hope in the biblical context does not mean to remain still and silent, but to groan, to cry out and to struggle actively for a new life in the midst of difficulties.”
On the occasion of announcing the “Season of Creation” theme for this year, the Laudato Si’ movement released the following video in which you can find several messages delivered by many Religious Leaders from around the world, including His Beatitude Patriarch John X, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, and President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) for the Orthodox Family.
In this context, Laudato Si’ has announced a series of activities that will be held to celebrate the “Season of Creation”. In fact, this season will be launched through an international webinar on next June. It will also be inaugurated with a Prayer meeting in which Religious Leaders from around the world will participate on 1 September. On the 21th of the same month, a webinar will be held with the aim of explaining the phenomenon of fossil fuels and researching ways to reduce it, supporting the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty (FFNPT). The ending meeting of the Season will be held on 4 October, with the participation of youth voices from all over the world.