On 3 May 2025, the Franciscan family in Slovakia gathered in Spišský Štvrtok to celebrate the 800th anniversary of the “Canticle of the Creatures”. The event combined prayer, liturgy, and reflection on creation, echoing the Franciscan call to praise and ecological responsibility.

The Polish National Council of Catholic Movements (ORRK) was established in June 1990 as the fruit of an earlier cooperation between leaders of Catholic movements and associations. In 2005–2007, ORRK organized the 3rd National Congress of Catholic Movements and Associations. In 2010–2011 the 4th edition was held, resulting in the formulation of key guidelines that defined the directions and areas of the Church’s involvement in environmental issues. REFA actively participated in both events, promoting environmental issues in the Christian life, and continues to support the activities undertaken by ORRK.

Since its very beginning in the 1980s, the St. Francis of Assisi Environmental Movement (REFA) has been involved in promoting the principles of Christian ecology as well as the attitude of respect for creation in accordance with the Franciscan spirituality. We would like to be the voice of ecologists in the structures of the Catholic Church and the voice of Christians among ecologists. During its 40 years of activity, REFA has undertaken numerous initiatives aimed at spreading Franciscan thought in the environmental debate. Below are the most important activities we have carried out in recent years.

The Laduato si’ encyclical of Pope Francis is a milestone document that responds to contemporary world problems and updates the Church’s social teaching in the context of the ecological crisis. It includes what previous popes Paul VI, John Paul II, and Benedict XVI, known as the Green Pope, have already said. The encyclical begins with a hymn about the creation of St. Francis and ends with a hymn about the creation of Pope Francis. Since the signing of the papal document in 2015, REFA has undertaken activities to promote the message of Laudato si’, that is connected to the Franciscan thought.

One of the REFA goals is to activate Catholic communities in Poland to act for integral ecology. Our aim is popularizing the message of Laudato si’ in the context of responsibility for the world and its challenges, like climate change. By the Integral Ecology Leaders School we want to support bottom-up local activities of people who needs to be equipped with knowledge, awareness of the importance of problems and the ability to influence others in their socio-political decisions and consumer choices. The idea of the project was to prepare leaders who will implement integral ecology in the local context.

The Saint Francis of Assisi Environmental Movement (REFA) has been involved in ecological education in Poland for over 40 years. It especially cares about the ethical perspective in the recognition of environmental issues, shaping the attitude of respect towards nature and the proper relationship between man and the environment as indispensable conditions for sustainable and ecological development. Our association run educational projects, workshops and campaigns targeted at young people, adults and Catholic communities. We are environmentalists among Catholics, and Catholics among environmentalists.