In what has been arguably the most keenly anticipated papal encyclical of modern times, Pope Francis yesterday called on "all people...to enter into a dialogue about global environmental deterioration".
Laudato Si (Praise Be With You) is effectively the first encyclical (formal papal teaching) of Pope Francis since his election in March 2013 and in it he touches on many of the socio-economic and political themes which have already so clearly defined his pontificate.
The pope begins the encyclical by saying that “our common home” is “like a sister with whom we share our life”. However, that sister now cries out to us “because of the harm we have inflicted by our irresponsible use and abuse of the goods with which God has endowed her”.
Pollution, waste, the throwaway mentality, access to safe water, reduced biodiversity are not only related to the climate change debate, writes the pope, but also to global inequality and to the breakdown of society where current models of development adversely effect the quality of life. The result of all this is catastrophic: “The earth, our home, is beginning to look more and more like an immense pile of filth”, writes the pope.
Running throughout the encyclical, subtitled “On Care For Our Common Home”, is the belief that climate change cannot be addressed as merely an “environmental issue” but that rather it is also a complex “social” issue in an inter-connected modern world:
“We are not faced with two separate crises, one environmental and the other social, but rather one complex crisis which is both social and environmental... Human ecology is inseparable from the notion of the common good.”
Fundamental to this encyclical is the call for “forthright and honest debate” that would acknowledge “the serious responsibility of international and local policies” in failing to deal with many of the great environmental issues of the day.
The pope argues that the greatest impact of environmental and climate change is felt by the poorest of the earth, even though climate is a “common good” meant for all, adding: “Climate change is a global problem with serious implications, environmental, social, economic, political and for the distribution of goods; it represents one of the principal challenges facing humanity in our day...
“(Yet) Many of those who possess more resources and economic or political power seem mostly to be concerned with masking the problems or concealing their symptoms...Our lack of response to those tragedies involving our brothers and sisters points to the loss of that sense of responsibility for our fellow men and women upon which all civil society is founded.”
Pointing out that this encyclical has now been added to “the body of the Church’s social teaching”, the Pope expresses the hope that this document can “help us to acknowledge the appeal, the immensity and the urgency of the challenge we face”. The encyclical is divided into three larger parts – a review of the roots of present ecological crisis; the Judeo-Christian tradition in relation to the environment; and “some broader proposals” for dialogue and action.
In that latter regard, the pope argues that whilst technology “can bring progress towards sustainable development”, it can be become too dominant:
“Without a sound ethic technology gives those with the knowledge, and especially the economic resources… an impressive dominance over the whole of humanity...The economy accepts every advance in technology with a view to profit……yet by itself the market cannot guarantee integral human development and social inclusion.”
The church, writes the pope, does not presume to settle scientific questions or to replace politics, but it can promote dialogue on global and local governance, transparent decision-making, sustainable use of natural resources, as well as engaging in respectful dialogue with other people of faith and with the scientific world.
To that end, it was signficant that the Laudato Si encyclical was presented in the Vatican by a varied line-up of speakers including Nigerian cardinal Peter Turkson, president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace; the orthodox metropolitan of Pergamo, John Zizioulas; German professor Hans Joachim Schellnuber of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research and US professor Carolyn Woo, president of Catholic Relief Services.