“Walking with Creation”
On Saturday, the 14 th June 2025, the 2nd Ecological Walk took place in San Esteban, Olancho Department, Honduras, under the theme: “Walking with Creation.” This ecological activity, inspired by the spirit of St Francis of Assisi and in the context of the 800th anniversary of the Canticle of Creatures, was organized by the Office of Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation (JPIC-Honduras) as part of the Franciscan commitment to caring for our Common Home.
The walk was attended by Bishop Henry Orlando Ruiz Mora, Bishop of the Diocese of Trujillo, Franciscan friars from the Honduras Region, religious sisters, and nearly 3,000 people. Communities from various OFM Franciscan communities in the Central American county participated: “Santos Mártires” from Comayagua, “Inmaculada Concepción” from Comayagüela, and “San Francisco de Asís” from Catacamas, “Dulce Nombre de Jesús” in Culmí, and “San Esteban” in San Esteban, Olancho.
We reproduce a portion of the speech given by Monsignor Ruiz Mora, in line with the call of the encyclical Laudato Si’ and integral ecology:
We are summoned by the cry of our sister earth, which is the cry of the poor. We are summoned by the cry of the blood of the murdered defenders of the land: Berta Cáceres, Juan Ángel López, Carlos Flores. We are summoned by the cry of the Martyrs of Los Horcones, who sought access to the land in Olancho…”
The Monsignor emphasized the importance of understanding that we are one body with the earth, and called for living in harmony with nature, overcoming relations of power and domination, toward a relationship of care, service, and fraternity with Creation.
He harshly criticized the extractivist model and the advance of mining in Honduras, denouncing the impact of mining concessions on rivers and mountains, as well as the silencing of social leaders and environmental martyrs like Juan López, murdered in 2024 for his commitment to defending Mother Earth.
“Life is worth more than all the money of the capitalists of our world. We demand justice for Juan Antonio López, a martyr for Mother Earth,” concluded the Bishop of Trujillo.
The day concluded with cultural expressions, artistic presentations, poems, dances, and reflections on the environment, and a community lunch organized by the people of San Esteban, Olancho.
