Our common home?

I cannot say that I have completed my study of Pope Francis’ encyclical, Laudato Si, “On Care for our Common Home” (LS). But sharing some preliminary reflections on this remarkable document may already be worthwhile, if only to invite my readers themselves to delve into the richness – and challenge - of this document.

Confronting the major socio-ecological problems of the world – pollution and climate change, the diminishing supply of fresh drinking water, the loss of biodiversity, global inequality, and the decline in the quality of human life – Francis rejects resignation and defeatism. “Humanity still has the ability to work together in building our common home,” Francis insists. “The urgent challenge to protect our common home includes a concern to bring the whole human family together to seek a sustainable and integral development, for we know things can change” (LS, 13).