Pope Francis has called for special events this week to mark and draw attention to the 5th anniversary of his encyclical, Laudato Si'.
Some people think of it as just some kind of 'green' encyclical about climate change. But this encyclical introduces a paradigm shift. Prior to Laudato Si' the political-economic framework for debate on climate and the environment was two opposing camps: the 'green environmentalists' versus the 'fighters for social justice'. Support for the 'green environmentalists' came largely from the wealthier, more developed countries, while the 'fighters for social justice' were drawn more from the poorer and less developed world. In Laudato Si', the Pope makes it clear that the environmental and social issues are inextricably linked in "the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor," cries which go up to the very heart of God.
The Pope sees in the thirteenth century figure of St. Francis of Assisi an attractive and compelling model and example of authentic Catholic, Christian and human care for the earth and care for the poor. In Laudato Si', the Pope writes:
"I believe that Saint Francis is the example par excellence of care for the vulnerable and of an integral ecology lived out joyfully and authentically... He was particularly concerned for God’s creation and for the poor and outcast... He shows us just how inseparable the bond is between concern for nature, justice for the poor, commitment to society, and interior peace... He felt called to care for all that exists... He would call creatures, no matter how small, by the name of ‘brother’ or ‘sister’... Such a conviction cannot be written off as naive romanticism, for it affects the choices which determine our behaviour." (Laudato Si' #10 - #12)
I will leave you with this question to ask yourself and ponder over the coming week: To what extent is my behaviour influenced by both the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor?