On a crisp October morning in Castel Gandolfo, the tranquil lakeside town just south of Rome, the Vatican’s newly inaugurated environmental educational center buzzed with anticipation. The occasion? The much-awaited “Raising Hope for Climate Justice” conference, a three-day event drawing together more than 400 religious leaders, climate experts, political figures, and activists from around the globe. But the spotlight, at least for a moment, fell squarely on Hollywood icon and former California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, who arrived to lend his signature bravado—and a dose of star power—to the Vatican’s latest push against climate change.
Schwarzenegger, never one to shy away from the big stage, addressed the press with a message that was equal parts urgent and optimistic. According to Reuters, he called on the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics to become “crusaders for the environment” and help “terminate pollution,” cleverly referencing his famous role as the Terminator. “God has put us in this world to leave this world a better place than we inherited it,” he declared, underscoring the spiritual and moral dimensions behind the Church’s environmental activism.
The timing of the conference was no accident. It marked the 10th anniversary of Laudato si’, the landmark 2015 encyclical by the late Pope Francis that cast environmental stewardship as a sacred duty and launched a global movement within the Catholic Church. As Vatican News reported, this document remains unique in its impact, sparking conversations and commitments a full decade later—something few papal texts have managed.
But this year’s gathering also carried a sense of renewal and legacy. Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope and a vocal advocate for climate action, presided over the opening “Celebration of Hope” on October 1, sharing the stage with Schwarzenegger and Brazil’s Minister of the Environment. The pope’s presence signaled a continuity of purpose: the Vatican’s commitment to ecological justice did not end with Pope Francis. As Lorna Gold, Executive Director of the Laudato Si’ Movement, put it, “The passing of Pope Francis has energised our whole movement—we now feel a sacred duty to be a living legacy and to bring his leadership and commitment to our work.”
The conference, held at the Vatican’s new ecological training center nestled in the historic papal villa grounds, unfolded over three days with a packed agenda. According to Herald Malaysia and Vatican News, it included keynote addresses, round tables, workshops, and moments of prayer—each designed to intertwine faith, ecology, and culture. The goal? To strengthen collaboration across continents and communities, ensuring a dignified future for all and protecting what the Church calls “our common home.”
Schwarzenegger, who has dedicated much of his post-political life to environmental causes, was quick to highlight the unique influence of the Catholic Church. “The 400,000 priests in 200,000 parishes around the world have tremendous power to effect change if they get educated,” he told Vatican News. He argued that the Church’s vast network—1.4 billion followers and hundreds of thousands of priests—could become a powerhouse for climate activism, mobilizing grassroots action at a scale governments alone could never achieve.
He didn’t mince words when it came to political leadership, either. At a Vatican press conference, Schwarzenegger pushed back against climate skepticism emanating from the United States. When asked about then-President Donald Trump’s recent dismissal of climate change as a “con job,” Schwarzenegger responded, “Don’t use the federal government as an excuse. It’s an easy way out.” He recalled his own legal battles as California’s governor, when he faced resistance from the Bush administration over state environmental regulations. “We said ‘Hasta la vista, baby,’” he quipped, drawing laughter—and a reminder that sometimes, persistence pays off.
Schwarzenegger’s message was clear: while government action is essential, it’s not enough. “Government is very important in this environmental movement,” he said, “but government alone cannot do it. We need everyone to participate.” He urged individuals to take responsibility for everyday choices—like turning off lights or supporting renewable energy—and pointed to California as a model. Despite having some of the strictest environmental laws in the world, the state boasts a booming economy. “I’m a big believer that anything can be done. If you have a clear vision and if you have a clear goal, then you can do it,” he said. “But if you just go for hope, that’s not a good strategy. So what you need is just to have a plan.”
The Vatican, for its part, has set an ambitious example. As Vatican News highlighted, the Holy See aims to become the world’s first carbon-neutral state—a symbolic but significant step, given its global profile. Sr. Alessandra Smerilli, Secretary of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, praised the thousands of churches, parishes, and Catholic schools worldwide that have embraced sustainability, teaching communities how to live more lightly on the Earth.
One of the most tangible outcomes of the conference was the launch of the “Laudato Si’ 10” pledge. As announced by Lorna Gold, this initiative invites governments, organizations, and individuals to reaffirm their commitment to the vision set out in the 2015 encyclical. “Pope Francis urged us to not give in to despair, but ‘to sing as we go’—believing that even in the most challenging times, hope can prevail and things can change,” Gold said. The pledge comes just weeks before the COP30 climate conference in Brazil, a timely reminder that the window for meaningful action is narrowing.
The urgency of the moment was underscored by voices from the frontlines. Maina Talia, Tuvalu’s Minister for Home Affairs, Climate Change, and Environment, told the assembled press that his island nation is already suffering the dramatic consequences of rising sea levels. “Climate change is not a distant scenario,” he said. “We are already drowning. Our survival depends on urgent global solidarity.”
Throughout the conference, participants returned to a central theme: the need for unity across faiths, nations, and generations. As Sr. Smerilli put it, “The tenth anniversary of Laudato si’ is therefore not a destination, but a new beginning. It calls us to renewed commitment, for we know that the challenges remain enormous.”
So, as the sun set over Castel Gandolfo, the message from the Vatican was unmistakable: the fight against climate change demands both moral leadership and practical action. With figures like Schwarzenegger rallying the faithful—and the world—perhaps the hope raised in these halls will ripple outward, inspiring change far beyond the Vatican’s ancient walls.
