WCC News: From Manila to Harare: Youth transform climate fear into church resilience with prayers and actions

On the Feast of St Francis of Assisi, 4 October, young Christians across three continents shared a message at the Season of Creation closing online prayer ceremony: turn climate anxiety into action. Youth from Manila to Harare offered prayers in multiple languages and described their experiences with floods, droughts, and displacement. This year's theme, "Peace with Creation," came from Isaiah 32's prophecy that peace follows justice. Speakers described how the crisis threatens daily survival while communities build practical responses. 07 October 2025 Patricia Mari Mungcal, assistant programme director with the National Council of Churches in the Philippines and member of the ACT Alliance Climate Justice Reference Group, joined from a café in Metro Manila as heavy rains disrupted electricity across the capital. Speaking as a humanitarian responder in one of the world's most disaster-prone countries, she described eco-anxiety as "the chronic fear and psychological distress about the climate crisis, the ecological degradation. It is manifested as worry, sadness, anger, fear, or helplessness." Mungcal acknowledged that "it is very valid and reasonable for us to feel that way. It is not a sign of weakness, but a sign that we care and we feel for the creation around us." She continued: "And the important thing about this is to acknowledge that this is not what God intended for the creation. This is brought about by sin, and this is brought about by greed, by the pursuit of profit. Therefore, the hope there is that it can be reversed by doing human actions toward justice and peace." The ceremony featured stories of resilience from three continents. Ngoni Muchenje from Zimbabwe described how communities in Okea South and Buera are introducing climate-smart agriculture, solar-powered boreholes, and youth-led permaculture gardens. "We do not want to be remembered as a generation that watched the earth bleed. Let us be a generation that noted that prayed, planted, protested, and rose," Muchenje declared. Jacob Bush from the United Kingdom described switching to banks that do not invest in fossil fuels. "I know that in reality, something has changed and that my money is no longer being invested in fossil fuels without my permission and instead it's being invested in positive local action," he said. Alphonce Muia Munyao, environmental scientist with the Catholic Youth Network for Environmental Sustainability in Africa, called mitigation and adaptation moral imperatives, noting that Pope Francis positioned the church at the centre of climate response through Laudato Si. "Young people across Africa are leading change through grassroots innovations despite battling anxiety and job insecurity," he said. The ceremony concluded with prayers in multiple languages. Father Savio Silveira prayed: "The poor and the earth are crying out. Oh Lord, seize us with your power and light. Help us to protect all life, to prepare for a better future, for the coming of your kingdom of justice, peace, love and beauty." Dr Louk Andrianos, WCC consultant on creation care, sustainability, and climate justice and member of the Season of Creation steering committee, joined the closing prayer and commented later on the 2025 campaign: "The promotion of the Season of Creation ecumenical movement is part of the WCC Living Planet programme activities. It will play a greater role in the implementation of the Decade of Climate Justice and Action (2025-2035) that was launched this year to increase church resilience and engagement in the decade of eco-conversion or metanoia for reconciliation with creation." WCC presents creation theology webinar during Season of Creation (News Release, 25 September 2025) When Christ meets ECO: a reflection from Ivory Coast's struggles (Blog, 23 September 2025) "Time is running out": WCC climate leader calls for church action during Season of Creation prayer (Feature Story, 10 September 2025) A call for ecological metanoia: prayer, action, and a new way of life (Blog, 04 September 2025) Season of Creation opens with call for “peaceful habitation” amid climate crisis (News Release, 02 September 2025) WCC joins Ecumenical Patriarch in launching Season of Creation with call for "ecological repentance" (News Release, 01 September 2025) Over 100 African faith leaders gather online to strengthen Season of Creation (News Release, 21 August 2025) Faith leaders invite all to celebrate Season of Creation (News Release, 11 August 2025) Online Youth Closing Service for St Francis Day See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 356 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa.  Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches Chemin du Pommier 42 Kyoto Building Le Grand-Saconnex CH-1218 Switzerland