Tree of diversity

EUROPASSION is an association of Passion Play groups from across Europe. It brings people together through the portrayal of the Passion of Christ – a shared testimony of faith, culture, and community. Like a tree deeply rooted in the earth and growing towards the sky, the Passion Plays represent a rootedness in faith and the living growth of a European community. The wood of this tree reminds us of the cross on which Jesus Christ died – and at the same time of the resurrection, which brings new life and hope.

Why a Tree?

The tree is a powerful symbol that touches many layers of our shared journey:

• Roots – representing tradition, origin, and faith

• Growth – expressing a vibrant, unfolding community

• Wood – a reminder of the cross and the promise of resurrection

• Diversity – each location chooses its own tree species, as a sign of biodiversity and cultural uniqueness

Inspired by Laudato si’

Pope Francis, in his encyclical Laudato si’, calls us to care for our common home – the Earth. He speaks of an integral ecology that connects environmental and social issues inseparably. He emphasizes that the ecological crisis is also a social crisis, affecting especially the poor. For him, care for nature, social justice, and inner peace form a unity.

“The environment is a collective good, a heritage of all humanity and a responsibility of everyone.” 
(Laudato si’, No. 95)

These words are the guiding principle of the “Tree of Diversity” project. Each tree planted is a sign of responsibility for creation and an expression of lived solidarity – across borders.

Goals and Symbolism of the Project

• Promoting the Passion Play tradition
  Like the roots of a tree anchoring it firmly in the ground, the Passion Plays are deeply rooted in the history of their regions and in the faith of the people.
  They draw from Christian sources – a spiritual heritage that provides strength and hope for reconciliation, responsibility, and renewal.

• Cultural exchange in Europe
  A tree grows and unfolds – like the encounters between Passion Play groups, which create new friendships and perspectives.
  Each meeting is like a new branch that makes the European community more vibrant and diverse.

• Strengthening Christian values
  A tree offers shelter and habitat – like the Passion Plays, which bring people together and keep Christian values alive.
  They create spaces of connection, faith, and hope – during our globalized world.

• Caring for our common home
  A tree goes through seasons and change – like life itself, which we are called to respect and protect.
  The annual planting reminds us that caring for creation is a shared responsibility – carried by love and commitment to the Earth.

Annual Tree Planting

Each year, EUROPASSION plants a tree at a Passion Play location in Europe as part of its annual congress. The diversity of tree species represents the precious ecological heritage of our continent and the cultural uniqueness of each region that enriches our community.

Each tree is unique – in its species, its location, and its symbolic meaning. This initiative is more than a symbolic act – it is a call to action. EUROPASSION invites all Passion Play groups to actively participate and plant trees in their own communities. Each tree becomes part of a growing network of living signs of diversity, faith, and responsibility for creation. This creates a European landscape of hope – rooted in Christian tradition, nurtured by community, and open to the future.

To make this diversity visible, all planting locations will be documented on the website.
Please send us photos and information about your planting activities – including location, tree species, number of trees, and year – to:

treeofdiversity@europassion.eu

The Tree Plaque

Each tree receives a plaque with the following inscription – in the local language, as a sign of linguistic and cultural diversity:

Tree of Diversity
Rooted in Christian faith –
grown from lived community.

A symbol of
Europe’s cultural richness.
––
Commitment to the common good,
responsibility for creation.

EUROPASSION Congress Year
Location

These words reflect key ideas from Pope Francis’ Laudato si’ and make them visible – right at the place of planting, as a lasting sign of hope, responsibility, and diversity.

The words faith, community, common good, and creation are at the heart of this message. They reflect the integral vision of Laudato si’: a spirituality that connects faith with concrete action, a community that reaches across borders, and a responsibility that embraces both people and the planet.

“The Earth we have received also belongs to those who are yet to come.” 
(Laudato si’, No. 159)

The “Tree of Diversity” project embodies the spirit of this ecological conversion – a posture of gratitude, humility, and care for creation. It connects Christian tradition with ecological awareness and shows how faith, commitment to the common good, and responsibility for creation go hand in hand.