Ten years ago, Pope Francis released Laudato Si’—a prophetic call to integral human development. It reminded us that the Earth is not an infinite resource but our fragile, shared home. More than an encyclical, it was a wake-up call to people of goodwill across all faiths.

Today, at the Raising Hope conference marking its 10th anniversary, the question rings louder than ever: Do we dare to raise our hope?

In the opening session, Arnold Schwarzenegger—a perhaps unlikely yet very fitting guest—delivered a bold challenge. He praised Pope Leo XIV as a true “action hero,” recalling how one of his first acts as pope was to install solar panels on Vatican rooftops, moving the Church toward climate neutrality. Real action, Schwarzenegger said, means working together to "terminate pollution"—with courage, heartfelt communication, and a willingness to defy the naysayers—even governments. He reminded us that despite much resistance, California now has some of the world’s toughest environmental laws—while remaining the fourth-largest global economy.

Pope Leo XIV echoed the call with humility and conviction: The real action heroes are those who carry the mission of Laudato Si’ forward—those who refuse to be paralyzed by despair, who dare to hope—and act.

Hope is not passive. It is courage in motion—the belief that tomorrow can be better, and the determination to make it so.

It is not naïve optimism, but a reasoned appeal to the heart—and hearts that think.

To raise hope today means moving: From collecting data to cultivating care. From detached awareness to transformative engagement. From convenience to conscious living.

It also means:
* Changing personal and collective lifestyles
* Influencing institutions to serve the common good
* Asking not only how we live today, but how our choices shape tomorrow

Hope is not just a personal virtue—it’s a civic and moral duty. A call to business leaders, policymakers, citizens, and people of all faiths and convictions.

We are one human family, and this wounded planet is our only home.

But we are not alone. Around the world, young people, scientists, faith communities, workers, and dreamers are rising. Their voices challenge us to aim higher.

As Pope Francis wrote: “The cry of the earth and the cry of the poor are one.”

Responding is not optional. It is a matter of justice, love, and solidarity.

To be an action hero today is to live with integrity, act with courage, and stand together—for justice, for the future, for our common home.

Let this anniversary not be a moment of nostalgia— But a renewed call to action.

Hope begins when we refuse to stand still.

#Leadership #Transformation #LaudatoSi #ClimateAction #Hope