DO YOU SPEAK LAUDATO SI’ ?
Focusing on the relationship between God, humans, and the Earth, Laudato Si’ is Pope Francis’ call for global environmental justice. It was his first original encyclical - a papal letter on a contemporary social issue outlined within the tradition of Catholic teachings. Signed on May 24, 2015, Laudato Si’ is addressed to “every person living on this planet.” It translates from Italian to “Praise be to You” which is phrasing from the song Canticle of the Creatures written by St. Francis of Assisi.
CARE FOR OUR COMMON HOME
The subtitle of Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si ’.
CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHINGS
The ideals and values that have been disseminated through papal and other Catholic Church documents over time; themes include stewardship of creation, seeking the common good, enhancing the life and dignity of the human person, protecting human rights, and pursuing peace and justice.
CURA TERRA
Latin for care for the earth. It complements other important ‘caring’ qualities for educational excellence in the Jesuit Catholic tradition: cura apostolica (the institution), cura personalis (the whole unique person), cura propria (oneself), cura studiorum (the plan of studies).
ECOLOGY
The branch of biological sciences that studies ecosystems, specifically the distributions, abundance and relationships of organisms, including humans, and their interactions with the environment. Ecology comes from a Greek word meaning home.
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
Recognizes the connections between social injustice and environmental problems. For instance, that exposure to environmental harms is inequitably distributed or that those who contribute most to climate change are the least likely to feel the impacts. Environmental justice calls us to advocate for the discriminated and the poor.
INTEGRAL ECOLOGY
Pope Francis’ perspective on sustainability, outlined in Laudato Si,’ is an integrated, holistic, human approach. Today’s ecological crisis is caused by a multitude of complex and interrelated social, political, economic and environmental problems. Integral ecology presumes that a comprehensive vision, focused on the common good, is necessary for the amelioration of the global environmental crisis. While daunting, Pope Francis, notes that “an integral ecology is also made up of simple daily gestures which break with the logic of violence, exploitation and selfishness.”
A desktop primerLAUDATO SI’ ACTION PLATFORM
An initiative of the Vatican, begun in 2021, which supports families, communities and institutions in outlining tangible actions that it will take to meet seven Laudato Si’ goals over a seven-year period. The goals are:
Response to the cry of the earth
Response to the cry of the poor
Ecological economics
Adoption of sustainable lifestyles
POPE FRANCIS
Ecological education
Ecological spirituality
Community resilience & empowerment
Elected the 266th Pope on March 13, 2013, Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio took his name after St. Francis of Assisi because he was “the man of poverty, the man of peace, the man who loves and protects creation.”
ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI
Francis (Giovanni) was born into a life of wealth in the town of Assisi, Italy in 1181. While attending a Mass at the age of 27, he heard God’s voice telling him to live a life of poverty and to help the poor. He subsequently lived a simple, charitable, peaceful life and founded the Franciscan Order. Known for his love of creatures and nature, he is patron saint of animals and ecologists. His feast day is celebrated on October 4.
SUSTAINABILITY
Actions to protect the environment for the welfare of future generations.
UNIVERSAL APOSTOLIC PREFERENCES
With affirmation from Pope Francis, the Jesuit Superior General, Fr. Arturo Sosa, S.J., announced four interrelated Preferences to guide the work of all members of the Ignatian global family for the decade 2019 -2029:
To show the way to God through the Spiritual Exercises and discernment
To walk with the poor, the outcasts of the world, those whose dignity has been violated, in a mission of reconciliation and justice
To accompany young people in the creation of a hope-filled future
To collaborate in the care of our Common Home