From October 1 to 3, 2025, the Secretary General of the International Young Catholic Students (IYCS), Roshan Melwyn Lobo, participated in the Raising Hope Conference held at the Focolare Movement’s International Mariapolis Center in Castel Gandolfo, Rome. The conference marked a significant gathering of spiritual leaders, policymakers, and activists to reflect on the 10th anniversary of the encyclical Laudato Si’ and to explore the urgent challenges of environmental and social justice in today’s world.

The event was inaugurated with the presence of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV, alongside prominent figures including Arnold Schwarzenegger, former Governor of California and founder of the USC Schwarzenegger Institute and the Schwarzenegger Climate Initiative, and the Hon. Marina Silva, Brazil’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change. The opening session featured testimonies, spiritual reflections, and artistic performances, highlighting the intersection of faith, ecological responsibility, and social engagement. Representing the Laudato Si’ Movement, Christina Leaño, Associate Director, and Igor Bastos, Brazil Director, presided over the opening of the day.

A poignant and symbolic moment during the conference was when Pope Leo XIV blessed a block of ice from Greenland over 20,000 years old, which had broken off due to climate change, alongside water brought from various parts of the world. This act embodied compassion and concern for the Earth and the poor, reinforcing the message of Laudato Si’ and the urgent need for ecological conversion.

In his address, the Pope emphasized the importance of moving from data collection to care, encouraging participants to engage their hearts alongside reason in responding to environmental and social challenges. He highlighted that a true ecological conversion involves personal and community transformation, rooted in love for God and all creation. He called on young people, parents, and institutional leaders to actively contribute to solutions for today’s cultural, spiritual, and educational challenges, striving for the common good.

The Secretary General of IYCS, Roshan Melwyn Lobo, attended the conference to represent the global Catholic student movement and to engage in dialogue on how youth can be drivers of change in the context of faith-based environmental action. The event provided a platform for sharing the perspectives of young people in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly focusing on climate action, social justice, and human rights.

During the conference, Arnold Schwarzenegger urged Catholics to leverage their collective strength to combat pollution and environmental degradation, emphasizing the need to speak to the heart rather than merely the intellect. Marina Silva expressed confidence in the Pope’s leadership in guiding COP30 to become a milestone COP of Hope, dedicated to the preservation of all forms of life.

The conference also featured the Laudato Si’ Movement leadership, including Dr. Lorna Gold, Executive Director, Margaret Karram, President of the Focolare Movement, Fr. Jesús Morán, and Yeb Saño, Chair of the Board of the Laudato Si’ Movement. Together, they facilitated spiritual and symbolic moments, including the pouring of water from countries including East Timor, Ireland, Brazil, Zambia, and Mexico into a common bowl, symbolizing the unity of humanity and creation.

The conference underscored the urgent reality of climate change, exemplified by the Greenland ice block, which traveled over 5,000 kilometers to Rome. The Secretary General’s participation highlighted the role of IYCS in promoting faith-inspired ecological awareness, youth leadership, and global solidarity. It reinforced the commitment of IYCS to educate and empower students worldwide to take meaningful action for the care of creation, echoing the vision of Laudato Si’ and the principles of intergenerational justice.

During this meeting, the Secretary General met former members of YCS, including Rev. Sr. Chanda Constance Nsofwa, FMA, Former National Youth Coordinator of Zambia; Sr. Maamalifar, Missionary Sister of Our Lady of Africa (MSOLA) and Executive Secretary of Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Commission; Sr. Gretta Fernandes, Mission Secretary VIVAT; Fr. Roy Thomas SVD, Executive Secretary of JPIC Commission USG and UISG; Mr. Budi Tjahjono, Advocacy Officer for Franciscans International; Rev Fr Xavier Jeyaraj S SJ, Registrar, St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata, India; Rev. Msgr. Robert L. Vitillo, Senior Advisor, Vatican’s Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development and Former Advisory Board Member of IYCS-JECI International; Brother Rodrigo Péret OFM, Franciscan International, among many other partners, human rights, and environmental activists.

This event was a special occasion to bring more hope to the global student movement and reinforce the role of youth in faith-driven climate action.