Inspired by Pope Francis’s Laudato Si’ Encyclical and the garden of Saint Francis of Assisi, The Living Chapel seeks to bring us on a journey of hope and to encourage people around the world to reconnect with the sacrality of life. This is accomplished through the creation of a physical garden in Rome in the summer of 2020, and the ongoing program to green the earth. The Living Chapel is currently on a mission to help plant trees across the world, and help people more connected to rebuilding our struggling planet.
Beyond the physical space, the Living Chapel represents a global movement that aligns with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals to restore our common home on the earth. Through interfaith and intercultural collaboration, The Living Chapel provides inspiration and support for planting initiative and to all those seeking to create Laudato Si’ gardens.
The First Living Chapel
First installed in the Botanical Garden of Rome, The Living Chapel brought together recycled and repurposed materials with diverse plants from central and southern Europe to create a harmonious space inspired by the teachings of Saint Francis of Assisi and the UN Trillion Tree Campaign. As visitors walked through the garden, their senses were engaged by the art, music, and nature of the Living Chapel
The garden was home to 10,000 tree saplings, including many “forgotten fruit” trees representing the cultural heritage of the region. Upon completion of the exhibit, the trees were distributed throughout Italy to create new gardens and spread the idea of Laudato Si’.
Values of The Living Chapel
To support the mission of rehabilitation through creating green spaces, the Living Chapel promotes three values:
- Biodiversity - We seek to create diverse and more sustainable ecosystems by encouraging the planting of rare, native, commercially rejected trees throughout the world.
- Harmony - The Living Chapel, Laudato Si’ gardens, and sacred spaces bring people into harmony with nature, God, and each other by calling on all the senses.
- Unity - Rehabilitating the earth through planting requires a universal effort, but also offers the opportunity to bring people together. The Living Chapel unites those of all cultures and faiths in this mission.
The Living Chapel works in partnership with the Food and Agricultural Organization of the UN, Global Catholic Climate Movement, and Plant for the Planet to inspire people around the world to plant and cultivate trees. This science-guided path will conserve and rehabilitate the planet in future years as the trees planted as part of this movement grow and propagate.
Learn more about The Living Chapel on their website: https://livingchapel.com/
