Therefore, the Pope returns strongly to one of the issues that most alarms him and on which he has long focused his attention: the environmental and climate crisis. In Laudato Si'he had not started from scratch: he took up the words of his predecessors and urged the world of politics not to have a myopic gaze, fixed on immediate success without long-term prospects; and everyone to free themselves from selfishness which drives consumerist societies, by changing their lifestyles.
Now, eight years later when Laudato Si 'has had a strong influence worldwide arousing a vast debate, not only in the Catholic context, on the attitude towards the protection of creation and the most fragile – because several times the Pontiff has reiterated that his was not "a green encyclical", but "a social encyclical" – Pope Francis further enriches that part of his Magisterium dedicated to"integral ecology", regarding the care of our Common Home with its related social and political implications.
In the new Apostolic Exhortation the Holy Father clearly states that "It is no longer possible to doubt the human – “anthropic” – origin of climate change" (no.11) and devotes several of the 73 paragraphs of his letter to illustrating, with references to studies and research, the bases of this statement. Thus, after having briefly indicated the subsequent risks, the Pope directly addresses "all people of good will" – to whom the exhortation is sent, from the title, to reiterate that "What is being asked of us is nothing other than a certain responsibility for the legacy we will leave behind, once we pass from this world" (no. 18).
The Holy Father also recalls two clear convictions, also proven by the experience of the Covid-19 pandemic: "everything is connected" and "no one is saved alone" (no. 19).
Papal reflection, however, does not stop only at symptoms, but investigates the causes of this situation: the growing technocratic paradigm, the silencing of ethics in decision-making processes and in the use of technological tools, the idolatry of money, a misunderstood concept of "meritocracy", which has become scene "under the rule of those born with greater possibilities and advantage" (no. 32).
After devoting extensive steps (no.34-60) of his reasoning also to the analysis of political action in response to the climate crisis – and observing on this occasion progress and failures, limits and future expectations – the Holy Father ends his Exhortation by returning again to the spiritual field, to indicate the universal motivations that urge each one to do their part. That is why the Pope states, "The Judaeo-Christian vision of the cosmos defends the unique and central value of the human being amid the marvellous concert of all God’s creatures, but today we see ourselves forced to realize that (...) hat human life is incomprehensible and unsustainable without other creatures" (no. 67).
"Thus" concludes the Holy Father, "Let us stop thinking, then, of human beings as autonomous, omnipotent and limitless, and begin to think of ourselves differently, in a humbler but more fruitful way" (no. 68).
The full text of the Apostolic Exhortation is available in various languages on the Holy See's website.
On the occasion of the publication of the Apostolic Exhortation of the Holy Father Francis, Laudate Deum, the Dicastery for the Service of Integral Human Development (DSSUI) has prepared some useful materials to accompany the personal reading of the Document and to favour its deepening.
- An introductory video in 10 languages (Italian, English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, German, Polish, Arabic, Chinese-Simp and Chinese-Trad)
- An infographic in 10 languages (Italian, English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, German, Polish, Arabic, Chinese-Simp and Chinese-Trad) + Audio
The material is available at the following link: https://linktr.ee/vatican.ihd
