Is Laudato Si’ still relevant? Without violating the rules of logic, the answer is Yes. Though this encyclical is still to be discovered, understood and appreciated, the Society of Missionaries of Africa finds it useful. It holds the view that caring for our common home promotes the common good. That is why, on 10 May 2025, eight members of the Generalate Community in Rome, joined other volunteers under the hospice of Roma Cura Roma (“Rome takes care of Rome”) project, for its 4th edition. The aim of the project is to keep the city of Rome clean. Roma Cura Roma is an annual initiative that brings together various governmental, non-governmental, faith-based organisations and people of goodwill, to clean and maintain public spaces such as parks, squares, gardens, streets, etc., within all municipalities of Rome. This year, 365 initiatives were registered and brought together about 19000 participants.
Why do Missionaries of Africa participate in such activities? Taking care of our common home is not something new to our evangelizing vocation. As experienced by some of us from early childhood to date, we encountered and still come across missionaries, who ceaselessly integrate environmental care in their missionary-pastoral endeavours, by planting trees, introducing new crops to their area of mission, fighting against erosion, raising awareness about the dangers of genetically modified seeds, maintaining roads and bridges that link villages, etc. Today, as recommended by the last General Chapter (cf. Recommendation no 6, Capitular Acts: 29th General Chapter, p. 28), joining Roma Cura Roma is one way of actualizing the ideals of our missionary apostolate. The wise say that “actions speak louder than words”. And we want, not only to talk, but also to deal with small actions that step by step lead to social change and transformation.
This year’s Roma Cura Roma is special. Being in the Jubilee Year of the Church gives it a special flavour. In Rome, most of public spaces such train and bus terminals, bus stops, historical monuments, sidewalks, etc., have been renovated to mark the jubilee’s events. Roma Cura Roma reiterates in one way or another the need to keep the city of Rome clean for pilgrims and residents alike. It is also a reminder for us Missionaries of Africa that the care for our common home is part and parcel of our Charism. There is a lot to emulate from our ancestors in Mission, other religious institutes, and the Civil society at large.
We wish to emphasise that organizing or participating in such initiatives is not a work of experts. It is for those who are passionate about caring for humanity and creation. It presupposes the goodwill. The first thing is to look at one’s strengths; then, think of what might be missing, such as money and other material means. However, resourcing for funds can only happen if and only if voluntary initiative has started taking place, according to the missionary context at hand.
Through Roma Cura Roma project, we see how Laudato Si’ is still relevant. It remains an encyclical that continues to inspire and inform our missionary Charism. It is up to us, according to our various pastoral contexts, to put in practice the insights and wisdom it offers.
By: Prosper Harelimana, M.Afr.