Scholas organizes 1st World Congress of 'Eco-Educational Cities'

By Deborah Castellano Lubov

Pontifical Foundation Scholas Occurrentes, along with the Development Bank of Latin America, will host the first World Congress of "Eco-Educational Cities" with 50 mayors and Pope Francis is expected to deliver the closing remarks.

According to a press release issued by Scholas on Friday, the Congress, to be held 23-25 May, seeks to promote and disseminate "sustainable development throughout the educational methodology developed by Scholas" and "the experiences that young people from different communities have been making, in reference to the term "integral ecology" developed in the Encyclical Laudato si.’"

Mayors will receive training in the subject so that they can apply the knowledge in their territories, in continuity to the experience of Laudato si’ young, promoted by Scholas last year.

A highlight will take place the closing day in the Aula Magna of the Augustinianum Patristic Institute at 3 p.m.

Mayors, along with prominent specialists, will deliver the conclusions to the Holy Father, as part of the 10-year anniversary celebrations.

During the celebration, Pope Francis will have live interaction with the youth communities of Scholas Occurrentes in Argentina, United States, Mexico and the Colombian Amazon.

In addition, the Holy Father will surprise a group of elderly and young people in a nursing home in Spain that is part of the intergenerational educational program, "Estar Juntos" (“Being Together”).