Rome (Italy). On 4 October 2023, on the feast of Saint Francis of Assisi and at the end of the Season of Creation, Pope Francis’ apostolic exhortation Laudate Deum on the climate crisis was published. The Holy Father addresses not only Christians, but “all people of good will” with this motivation:
“Eight years have now passed since the publication of the Encyclical Letter Laudato si’, when I wanted to share with all of you, sisters and brothers of our suffering planet, my heartfelt concerns for the care of our common home. But as time passes, I realize that we do not react enough, since the world that welcomes us is crumbling and perhaps is approaching a breaking point” (LD 1).
Promulgated on the Solemnity of Pentecost 2015, in recent years the Encyclical Laudato si’ has set in motion various reflections and movements, such as LS Platform Action, to which the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians also joined, and the Laudato Si’ Movement, with the LS Circles and Animators, including many FMA and members of the Salesian Family. After eight years, the Pope nevertheless felt the need to “specify and complete” what had already been written to address the urgent situation:
“The reflection and information that we can gather from these last eight years allow us to specify and complete what we stated some time ago. For this reason, and because the situation is becoming even more urgent, I wanted to share these pages with you” (LD 4).
The apostolic exhortation consists of 73 paragraphs divided into six chapters: 1st The global climate crisis; 2nd The growing technocratic paradigm; 3rd The weakness of international politics; 4th The Climate Conferences: progress and failures; 5th What do you expect from COP28 in Dubai; 6th Spiritual motivations.
Pope Francis expresses his confidence in COP 28, the Conference of the Parties to be held in the United Arab Emirates from 30 November to 12 December 2023. “If we have faith in the ability of the human being to transcend his small interests and to think big, we cannot give up dreaming that COP28 will lead to a decisive acceleration of the energy transition, with effective commitments that can be monitored permanently. This Conference can be a turning point.” (LD 54).
At the conclusion of the letter, the motivation of the title, already expressed in the initial phase, is transformed into a cry from the Holy Father, a heartfelt exhortation to “walk together with responsibility” bringing one’s own contribution, as individuals and in national and international politics, to stop the degradation of the common home:
“’Praise God’ is the name of this letter. Because a human being who claims to replace God becomes the worst danger to him/herself.”
Since its release, events and conferences to present the document have already been taking place – online and in person – with experts from different fields of expertise, to delve deeper, raise awareness, and above all to make the debate lively and stimulate everyone’s active participation (see Vatican Press Office Conference; Presentation of the LS Movement).
On the website of the Dicastery for Integral Human Development you can also find infographics, resources, and useful news for this purpose.
The world sings of an infinite Love: how can we fail to care for it? (LD 65)
