Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople has been honoured with the Laudato Si’ Award for his exceptional ecological leadership, particularly his profound influence on Pope Francis. Source: Vatican News.
The Order of Friars Minor honoured the Patriarch with the award, which was presented at a ceremony held at the Pontifical Antonianum University in Rome last week.
The Laudato Si’ Award was also granted to theologian Leonardo Boff, the Pan-Amazonian Ecclesial Network and the Laudato Si’ Movement.
The Patriarch’s inspiration was central to two of Pope Francis’ major ecological initiatives: the encyclical Laudato si’ and the institution of the “World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation,” celebrated annually on September 1.
During the award ceremony, the moderators highlighted that Pope Francis explicitly cited Bartholomew – often referred to as the “Green Patriarch” – in both efforts.
In his acceptance speech, the Patriarch highlighted the ecumenical milestone represented by the Catholic Church’s adoption of the September 1 celebration.
Thanks to its deep symbolic meaning and ancient roots in the Orthodox tradition, the day’s growing popularity is encouraging many other Christian denominations to integrate it into their liturgical calendars. Patriarch Bartholomew played a key role in fostering and supporting this ecumenical development, as acknowledged during the event.
He then made a powerful statement: “If there is no true human conversion, the ecological crisis cannot be resolved. Any human action that harms the environment must be considered a grave sin.”
The ceremony coincided with three significant anniversaries: the 800th anniversary of the Canticle of the Creatures, the 10th anniversary of Laudato si’, and the 1700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea.
“These awards are not mere acknowledgments but symbols of a universal call to ecological conversion,” declared Fr Massimo Fusarelli, Minister General of the Franciscan Order.
“Each recipient represents a unique dimension of this shared commitment,” he added, urging all to “recognise creation as a gift from God and praise Him together with all creatures.”
FULL STORY
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I receives the Laudato Si’ Award (By Gabriel López Santamaría, Vatican News)
