Third “Laudato si’ Coffee” Held

On Friday, 27 February 2026, the third “Laudato si’ Coffee at 11” was held at the Catholic University of Croatia, continuing the conversations on the main messages of Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato si’ (2015). The focus of the discussion was biodiversity—its endangerment, but also its profound value that goes beyond viewing nature merely as a resource.

The topic of biodiversity was presented by Prof. Tihana Mojsinović, Commissioner for Ecological Issues at the Centre for the Promotion of the Social Teaching of the Church of the Croatian Bishops’ Conference. The meeting was moderated by Nenad Barić, a religious education teacher from Rijeka and a doctoral candidate at the Faculty of Catholic Theology of the University of Zagreb. Drawing on the first chapter of the encyclical, Prof. Mojsinović highlighted that the excessive disappearance of plant and animal species is connected to human activity and quoted Pope Francis, noting that because of human actions thousands of species will no longer give glory to God by their very existence nor convey their message to us, and that humanity has no right to cause such loss (Laudato si’, no. 33).

She also emphasized that this process leads to “spiritual impoverishment”, since species created by God are disappearing at an excessive rate. Ecological conversion is therefore necessary, along with reflection on the human person as responsible for preserving God’s gift—the planet Earth—which must be handed on to future generations, Prof. Mojsinović stressed.

The meeting continued with friendly conversation in an encouraging atmosphere—over coffee and open dialogue.

Thank you to everyone who participated and contributed to this gathering. We look forward to the next meeting!