Platform offers framework for ecological stewardship goals that align with Catholic values
In January, Bellarmine University received official certification recognizing the institution as an active participant in an international movement for pursuing environmental action through the pursuit of seven goals that align with the values and teachings of the Catholic Church.
The Laudato Si’ Action Platform is a framework by which all Catholics – from individuals, to schools, universities, hospitals, parishes, and religious orders – are called to carry out the work of caring for creation. Inspired by the words of Pope Francis’s 2015 encyclical Laudato Si’, Bellarmine University has committed to further integrate ecological stewardship into education, research, and operations, addressing the cry of the Earth and the poor. Together, we strive for sustainability, social justice, and hope for future generations.
The Seven Goals of the Laudato Si’ Action Platform which inspire and guide our work at Bellarmine to care for creation.
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Drawing especially from our spiritual pillars of St. Francis of Assisi and Thomas Merton, Bellarmine University’s core values of social responsibility and stewardship call us to honor the intrinsic dignity of life and the solidarity of the human spirit. Our mission requires that we consider how integral ecology is woven into the fabric of what we do as an institution: caring for the spiritual, bodily, and intellectual needs of our students while also working to improve the human condition at Bellarmine and beyond.
“At Bellarmine, our mission to educate students in mind, body, and spirit calls us to care not only for one another, but for the Earth we share”, said Dr. Susan M. Donovan, Bellarmine’s president. “Our participation in the Laudato Si’ Action Platform reflects a deep and enduring commitment to sustainability and the common good. Inspired by the values of St. Francis of Assisi and the inclusive spirit of Thomas Merton, we will continue to integrate ecological awareness across our teaching, service, and daily operations to ensure a flourishing future in our campus community and beyond.”
Our inclusion in the Laudato Si’ Action Platform follows on the coattails of another major step towards sustainability at Bellarmine. In October 2025, Bellarmine earned a Bronze rating through the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System (STARS), a program of the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE). This recognition reflects Bellarmine’s growing commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainability education, particularly through its academic programs, community engagement, and institutional planning.
The university’s other environmental accolades include:
Dr. David Robinson, emeritus professor of botany, presenting at the annual Bellarmine Tree Pilgrimage, part of our week-long celebration of the Feast of St. Francis which takes place every year at the beginning of October.
In the words of Pope Francis, “Environmental education should facilitate making the leap towards the transcendent which gives ecological ethics its deepest meaning. It needs educators capable of developing an ethics of ecology, and helping people through effective pedagogy, to grow in solidarity, responsibility, and compassionate care.”
This call to action from his encyclical Laudato Si’ is a challenge to every member of the Bellarmine community to care for our common home through dialogue, education, and action. We find additional inspiration today in the words of Pope Leo XIV who carries forth the legacy of Laudato Si’, “I encourage everyone...to play their part in finding solutions for today’s “cultural, spiritual, and educational challenges (LS, 202)”, always striving tenaciously for the common good. There is no room for indifference or resignation”
As we look toward the future, the Bellarmine Sustainability Committee will continue their work to identify, actualize, and review annual sustainability initiatives which align with the goals of Laudato Si’. You can learn more about the work of the Bellarmine Sustainability Committee here, and learn more about how you can sign up as an individual participant in the Laudato Si’ Action Platform here.