From 18th-20th September, the Mariapolis Centre in Castel Gandolfo hosted the international EcoOne meeting on the theme “Identity, network, future”. Scientists, researchers and professionals from over twenty countries across five continents came together to discuss a crucial question: how can we take care of the planet without separating environmental issues from people’s lives?

The answer that emerged from the conference was clear: the current crisis is not solely ecological, but also social, cultural and human. For this reason it cannot be tackled exclusively through technological solutions or isolated conservation measures. Instead, we need to rebuild genuine relationships between people, communities and the environment.

The Foundations of Relational Sustainability

Professor Sergio Rondinara, lecturer in Epistemology, traced the origins of EcoOne back to an intuition of Chiara Lubich’s on 27th May 1999, rooted in her mystical experience of 1949. In that contemplation of the mystery of God, a new understanding of the order of creation also emerged, perceived as a deeply unified reality.

Brazilian sociologist Vera Araújo, who spoke online, explored the human vocation to care for creation with respect. On the scientific front, Stefania Papa, an ecologist at the University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli” and international coordinator of EcoOne, highlighted how contemporary biology goes beyond a fragmented view of nature: life is sustained through interdependence and cooperation which are fundamental principles of ecosystems.

This awareness gave rise to EcoOne’s proposal: to conceive the world as a network of relationships to be protected and regenerated. It is a perspective that places the quality of human relationships, everyday choices and how we view others at its centre.

The Latin American Contribution

e contribution of Latin American scholars and professionals was particularly significant. They enriched the debate with a critical and constructive perspective, capable of connecting ethical-theological reflection to the challenges of social and environmental justice.

Lucas Cerviño and Gabriel Ferrero argued that the current ecological crisis reflects a deeper anthropological fracture, generated by a model of domination over nature. As an alternative, they proposed a “cosmotheandric” and life-centred vision, in which God, humanity and the cosmos are intertwined in a web of reciprocity. In this perspective, human beings are not the owners of the world, but responsible custodians of creation. The concept of “relational sustainability” derives from this, understood as the practical process of building community and ecological bonds.

Climate Justice and Social Inclusion

The round table “Living on Earth within its limits” fostered a dialogue between the Global North and the Global South, highlighting how the environmental crisis and the social crisis are two facets of a single emergency.

The Brazilian oceanographer Edison Barbieri, a researcher at the Fisheries Institute, pointed out that the crucial issue is not just rising temperatures, but above all those who suffer most from the consequences of environmental degradation. This is why he stated that there can be no true sustainability without equity, nor can there be an effective ecological transition without social inclusion.

To move beyond the logic of accumulation and consumerism, the working group proposed the concept of “energy sufficiency” and lifestyles based on moderation and interdependence. Models such as Buen Vivir, inspired by ancestral Latin American cultures and the Economy of Communion were presented, both of which are oriented towards the regeneration of relationships, reciprocity and care for our common home.

Experiences from Nigeria and the Philippines also showed how environmental protection and local economic development can go hand in hand, contributing to greater climate and social justice.

A Culture of Encounter

One of the most prominent themes that emerged was the role of culture in an era marked by polarization and fragmentation. Neurobiologist Catherine Belzung, a professor at the University of Tours, stressed the need to start from real-life situations and encounters with people in order to understand them, respect them and value their contribution.

Further grounds for hope were provided by Luca Fiorani, a researcher at ENEA and a lecturer at the Sophia University Institute. His reflections highlighted how sustainability can be understood primarily as a relationship. Science itself shows, in fact, that relationship is not merely an ethical value, but one of the fundamental conditions for the organisation of life.

Relationship was the common thread running through the entire meeting: a philosophical, theological, social and ecological reality, but above all a concrete and lived one. The event gave rise to new partnerships and a renewed passion for an integral ecology capable of engaging young people, institutions, businesses and civil society. It became clear that no one can tackle a global crisis alone: we need increasingly robust networks and everyone’s contribution.

This is perhaps the challenge that EcoOne poses for the future: to transform the paradigm of relationship into a new way of inhabiting the Earth.

Edison Barbieri and Maria Florencia Decarlini
Photo: © EcoOne