A reflection on Pope Francis’ encyclical

“When we can see God reflected in all that exists, our hearts are

moved to praise the Lord for all his creatures and to worship

in union with them.”

Laudato Si’ #87

““Nature reveals God to us Nature reveals God to us and allows us to experience and allows us to experience God’s presence.” God’s presence.”

The Call of Creation, 2002

““The Lord took Adam and settled him in the garden The Lord took Adam and settled him in the garden of Eden to cultivate and take care of it.”of Eden to cultivate and take care of it.”Genesis 2:15 Genesis 2:15

““The beauty and grandeur of nature touches each one of us… The beauty and grandeur of nature touches each one of us… Nature is a constant source of wonder and awe. Nature is a constant source of wonder and awe. It is also a continuing revelation of the divine.” It is also a continuing revelation of the divine.” Canadian Conference of Bishops, 2003Canadian Conference of Bishops, 2003

Insert encyclical quote- human ecology, human family

Laudato Si #1

“Saint Francis of Assisi reminds us

that our common home is like a sister

with whom we share our life, and a

beautiful mother who opens her arms

to embrace us.”

““The human community The human community and the earth community and the earth community together form a single, together form a single, sacred community.”sacred community.”

Thomas Berry Thomas Berry

““Mother earth is our Mother earth is our home, where we live as home, where we live as human beings alongside human beings alongside [all] things that exist. [all] things that exist. She gives us life.” She gives us life.”

Padre Fernando Alvarado Castro, Padre Fernando Alvarado Castro, CAFOD partner, Bolivia CAFOD partner, Bolivia

“This sister now cries out to us because of

the harm we have inflicted on her by our

irresponsible use and abuse of the goods

with which God has endowed her.”

Laudato Si’ #2

““If we no longer speak the language of If we no longer speak the language of fraternity and beauty in our relationship fraternity and beauty in our relationship with the world, our attitude will be that of with the world, our attitude will be that of masters, consumers, ruthless exploiters.”masters, consumers, ruthless exploiters.”

Laudato Si’ Laudato Si’ #11#11

““The earth, our home, is beginning The earth, our home, is beginning to look more and more like an to look more and more like an immense pile of filth.” immense pile of filth.” Laudato Si’ #66 Laudato Si’ #66

“In the present condition of global society,

where injustices abound... the principle of

the common good immediately becomes a

summons to solidarity with the poorest of

our brothers and sisters.”Laudato Si’ #158

““Before, it used to rain Before, it used to rain a lot. Now it´s hotter. a lot. Now it´s hotter. There is less rain. There is less rain. The soil dries up really The soil dries up really quickly. quickly. We have to keep We have to keep watering the plants.” watering the plants.” Flor Vilma Dueñas Olivo, PeruFlor Vilma Dueñas Olivo, Peru

““The Yanomami are The Yanomami are affected. affected. The earth is cracking. The earth is cracking. The destruction of the The destruction of the forest is making us ill. forest is making us ill.

We indigenous We indigenous communities are communities are saying, look at the saying, look at the sky, it’s changing, the sky, it’s changing, the sun is changing, the sun is changing, the rain is changing.”rain is changing.”

Davi Kopenawa Yanomami, Davi Kopenawa Yanomami, BrazilBrazil

“The people in the cities, we want them to listen and believe us.

They don’t see it. They let it happen.”

““Our sea is not Our sea is not clean, it is dirty... clean, it is dirty... When I look at the When I look at the sea I can’t forget sea I can’t forget my memories of my memories of Yolanda.”Yolanda.”Edzil, Philippines Edzil, Philippines

The ecological conversion

“calls for a number of attitudes which

together foster a spirit of generous care,

full of tenderness.”

Laudato Si’ #220

“The Son of God, by becoming flesh, has summoned us to a revolution of tenderness.” Pope Francis, Evangelii Gaudium

““Blessed are the merciful: Blessed are the merciful: they shall have mercy shown them.” they shall have mercy shown them.” Matthew 5:7Matthew 5:7

““We are speaking We are speaking of an attitude of of an attitude of the heart, onethe heart, onewhich which approaches approaches life with life with serene serene attentiveness... attentiveness... which accepts which accepts each moment as each moment as a gift of God to a gift of God to be lived to the be lived to the full.”full.”Laudato Si’ #226Laudato Si’ #226

“Living our vocation to be protectors of

God’s handiwork is essential to a life of

virtue; it is not an optional or a secondary

aspect of our Christian experience.”

Laudato Si’ #217

“All of us can cooperate as instruments of God for the care of creation, each according to his or her own culture, experience, involvements and talents.” Laudato Si’ #14

“The changing climate means people need to work together. It’s important to support each other and be a neighbour.” Sinteyo Legei, Kenya

“May our struggles and our concern for this planet never take away the joy of our hope.” Laudato Si’ #244

“Let’s build this homeland, let’s make our mother earth. Don’t let’s destroy it. And in so doing we will showour gratitude for all that God has given us.” Lazaro Gutierrez, Nicaragua

All powerful God,

you are present in the whole universe

and in the smallest of your creatures.

You embrace with your tenderness all that exists.

Pour upon us the power of your love,

that we may protect life and beauty.

Fill us with your peace, that we may live

as brothers and sisters, harming no one.

Teach us to discover the worth of each thing,

to be filled with awe and contemplation,

to recognise that we are profoundly united

with every creature

as we journey towards your infinite light.

We thank you for being with us each day.

Encourage us, we pray, in our struggle

for justice, love and peace.

References: Laudato Si’ Pope Francis (2015)

Evangelii Gaudium, Pope Francis (2013)

A Pastoral Letter on the Christian Ecological Imperative, The Canadian Conference of Bishops (2003)

The Call of Creation, Catholic Bishops Conference of England and Wales (2002)

The Cry of the Earth, Irish Catholics Bishops’ Conference (2009)

Photos: Chris Bain/CAFOD, Louise Norton/CAFOD, Phil Knox/Purple Flame, Eleanor Church/CAFOD, Laura Donkin/CAFOD, Barbara Davies/CAFOD, Annie Bungeroth/CAFOD, Sarah Smith-Pearse/CAFOD, Esther Gillingham/CAFOD, Nick Harrop/CAFOD, Eleanor Church/CAFOD, Mazur/Catholicnews.org.uk, Tania Dalton/CAFOD, Liam Finn/CAFOD, Nikola Ivanovski/CAFOD

Prayer: An extract from ‘A prayer for the earth’ published in Laudato Si’