The Divine Mercy Chapel in Bang Bo District, Samut Prakan Province, is being hailed as a landmark of environmentally conscious design that integrates faith and care for creation. “Root-ed in the principles of Laudato si’, the chapel is built as an energy-efficient structure that respects and celebrates the natural world,” said Fr. John Wirach Amornpattana, a Redemptorist priest overseeing the project. Speaking to LiCAS News, the priest described the chapel as a tangible manifestation of Pope Francis’ call for ecological conversion.
Pope Francis’ 2015 encyclical Laudato si’ addressed the global environmental crisis, urging collective action to protect “our common home.” Fr. Amornpattana said the chapel’s construction reflects the document’s principles and aligns with broader sustainability efforts. “Beyond just advocating for ecological conversion,” he explained, “Laudato si’ aligns with the global move-ment toward sustainability, as articulated in the United Nations’ Sustainable Deve-lopment Goals (SDGs). However, we must remem-ber that true care for creation springs from our faith in God as the Creator.”
The Thai Catholic Church has embraced this mission, incorporating ecological awareness into diocesan projects, schools, parishes, and community initiatives.
Fr. Amornpattana pointed to widespread efforts to instill the idea that “the world is our common home,” inspiring collective action across various levels of society.
The Divine Mercy Chapel itself exemplifies this commitment. Designed with sustainability in mind, the building features a 12-meter-high ceiling and strategically placed wall panels to optimize light and airflow.