Pope Francis is inviting all people to welcome the Encyclical on the environment, entitled “Laudato si, on the care of our common home.”
Toward the end of his weekly General Audience in St. Peter’s Square, the Holy Father launched an appeal, saying, “Tomorrow, as you know, the encyclical on the care of the ‘common home’ that is creation will be published. This common ‘home,’” Pope Francis stated, “is being ruined and this hurts everyone, especially the most poor.”
“Therefore, I would like to launch an appeal to responsibility, based on the task which God gave to man in creation: ‘to cultivate and protect’ the ‘garden’ in which humanity has been placed.”
“I invite all to welcome with an an open spirit this document, which places itself in the line of the Church’s social doctrine.”
The encyclical’s name—Laudato si (Praised Be To You)—is a title reflecting St. Francis’ Canticle of the Sun, a hymn of praise to God for His creations, written in 1224.
Since being elected Pope in March 2013, Francis has very frequently shown concern for the environment, in line with his predecessor Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, who was at times termed the ‘Green Pope.’ Both Pontiffs consistently have called for the safeguarding of creation.
Tomorrow, a press conference to present the encyclical is being held for accredited journalists in the Vatican’s New Synod Hall in Vatican City. Those speaking include Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson, President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, His Eminence Metropolitan John (Zizioulas) of Pergamon, representing the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Orthodox Church, Prof. John Schellnhuber, Founding Director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, Dr. Carolyn Woo, CEO and President of Catholic Relief Services and former dean of the Mendoza College of Business, University of Notre Dame, U.S.A.
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On ZENIT’s Web page:
‘Awaiting the Encyclical: Some Context:’ by Father Thomas Rosica: http://www.zenit.org/en/articles/awaiting-the-ecology-encyclical-some-context
