Latest news with #LaudateDeum
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Seitz to launch Diocese environmental plan during special Mass on Sunday
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — El Paso Bishop Mark J. Seitz will celebrate a special bilingual Mass Sunday, May 25 and will sign and inaugurate the Diocese's environmental action plan. The Mass will be at 11 a.m. May 25 at St. Luke Catholic Church, 930 E. Redd Road. The Mass will mark the 10th anniversary of Laudato Si', Pope Francis' landmark encyclical on care for 'our common home,' and the 800th anniversary of St. Francis of Assisi's 'Canticle of the Creatures,' the Diocese said. As part of this diocesan celebration, Seitz will officially sign and inaugurate the Laudato Si' Action Plan for the Diocese of El Paso. 'This new plan will guide the local Church's commitment to the values of Laudato Si' and Laudate Deum, deepening efforts toward environmental stewardship and solidarity with the poor across all ministries and institutions,' the Diocese said. The Mass will bring together representatives from local parishes, Catholic organizations, and environmental advocacy groups, including the Care for Creation Ministry at St. Luke, the Texas Chapter of the Laudato Si' Movement, and New Mexico–El Paso Power and Light, the Diocese said. 'Pope Francis reminds us that care for the Earth is inseparable from care for the most vulnerable,' Seitz said. 'This plan invites every person, parish, and diocesan structure to reflect on our impact and take real steps to live more sustainably and faithfully.' Released on May 24, 2015, Laudato Si' called for an 'integral ecology' that recognizes the deep connections between the environmental crisis and global inequality, the Diocese said. In 2023, Pope Francis continued this message with Laudate Deum, which addressed the growing climate emergency and the moral urgency of collective action. The Diocese's new action plan will provide tools and guidance for all Catholics to engage in concrete steps, the Diocese said. These actions can include creating special ministries, evaluating use of resources and adopting sustainable practices, the Diocese said. The Laudato Si' Diocesan Action Commission is available to assist parishes and organizations looking to implement or expand environmental initiatives, the Diocese said. For more information, contact laudatosicommissiondep@ Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Herald Malaysia
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Herald Malaysia
Pope Francis: A Voice for Our Common Home
Pope Francis brought ethical urgency to the climate crisis by addressing its human and social consequences, building on the legacy of John Paul II and Benedict XVI. May 01, 2025 A press conference in the Vatican gardens at the release of Laudate Deum on October 5, 2023 (VATICAN MEDIA Divisione Foto) By Federico Citterich'Brothers and sisters, good evening.' With these simple but moving words, Pope Francis began his pontificate on 13 March 2013. A humble greeting, spoken straight to the hearts of the people, which immediately set the tone for his papacy: close to ordinary lives, attentive to the poor, and far from distant formalities. And even now, days after his passing, Pope Francis is globally remembered for his profound humility – a humility reflected not only in his simple lifestyle and solidarity with the poor, but also in his unwavering commitment to caring for nature and the planet. In fact, despite the fact that when Francis was elected Pope the Church was undergoing a period of significant transformation, the theme of the planet's well-being within the context of sustainability was not new to the Vatican. Vatican City and the first rise of environmental awareness The relationship between religion and science fluctuated over time, and it was not until Pope John Paul II that it was effectively solidified for the first time. When John Paul II was elected Pope in 1978, the world was starting to transition from a strictly science-based to a policy-including view of climate change. Global leaders began to talk about environmental issues, and newspapers around the world started devoting coverage to the theme. The issues of climate change and loss of biodiversity were increasingly gaining attention. Pope John Paul II visiting with people during his journey to Angola in 1992 The Vatican adjusted to this transition, although its initial stance was relatively reserved and rooted in Catholicism. Catholic doctrine stated humans were created in the image and likeness of God and regarded as the most superior beings on Earth, clearly distinguished from animals. In this context, St. Thomas Aquinas' perspective has been particularly influential. He considered animals as lacking a soul and fundamentally inferior to humans, thereby positioning them as entirely at the service of man. This clearly poses a challenge when addressing climate change issues such as the loss of ecosystems and biodiversity. There was a risk that climate change might not have been perceived as an immediate priority by the Catholic culture. A new vision of the relation between humans and animals Pope John Paul II revolutionised the way the Church approached the relationship between humans and animals. Already from his very first encyclical, Redemptor Hominis , the Pope introduced this new perspective: "[…] it was the Creator's will that humans interact with nature as 'masters' and intelligent, noble caretakers, rather than as 'exploiters' and 'destroyers' with no regard.' This view still positioned animals as inferior to humans, but it granted them a more profound right to life. But Pope John Paul II took a further, more radical step during the General Audience of 10 January 1990, when he declared: " […] animals also have a breath or vital spirit and […] they received it from God. In this regard, humanity, created by God, appears to be united with all living beings." This perspective significantly contrasted with Thomas Aquinas' view of soul-less animals. Now, animals were perceived as 'united' with humans, on their same level, and even possessing a soul, and hence had their same right to life. With this reconceptualisation, climate change and the loss of biodiversity emerged as more significant issues. Pope Bendict XVI and climate change After being elected in 2005, Pope Benedict XVI later re-addressed these issues. His humility as pontiff was evident in his perspective on the relationship between humans and nature. A relationship with deep cultural roots that, according to the Pope, needed to be revitalised. During his 2010 Message for the World Day of Peace title, If You Want to Cultivate Peace, Protect Creation , Pope Benedict XVI particularly emphasised this need for a renovation in the human-nature relationship. He said, "It is essential for humanity to renew and strengthen that alliance between human beings and the environment.' First, according to the Pope, this requires increased dialogue between people – a concept that is later re-addressed by Pope Francis. In a 2010 speech, Pope Benedict XVI said: '[…] environmental issues, particularly those related to climate change, are global and must be addressed on a global level […] Religion and culture, as interrelated expressions of the deepest spiritual aspirations of humanity as a whole, naturally serve as incentives for dialogue and cooperation among peoples in the service of peace and authentic development.' To reinforce the bond between humanity and the natural world, however, it's also important to consider a moral portion, because – in the Pope's words – 'environmental degradation is profoundly connected to the moral decline of humanity.' Within this framework emerges the idea of ecological conversion , an idea that will later be further explored by Pope Francis and that, according to Pope Benedict XVI, translates into changing personal habits for safeguarding the planet. But for this to occur, it's also crucial to transform the Catholic cultural system and move away from the view of humans as superior beings. In fact, Pope Benedict XVI's perspective of the human-nature relationship was significantly more inclusive. In his 2009 encyclical Caritas in Veritate , the Pope emphasised the importance of comprehending nature. Here, however, to comprehend doesn't simply mean to understand , but acquires its Latin, historic connotation. The term comprehend – from the Latin cum (together) and pre(he)nd?re (to take) – historically means to 'keep together'. Pope Benedict XVI's view of nature is all encompassing and does not differentiate between its components. A name in tribute to ecology But it's Pope Francis who, more than anyone, would prioritize ecology and sustainability, as hinted by the very name he chose. A name – Francis – in honour of St. Francis of Assisi, the same figure who, 34 years earlier, was declared Patron Saint of Ecologists by Pope John Paul II. In one of his first speeches as Pope, Francis said: 'And so, the name came to my heart: Francis of Assisi. He is the man of poverty, the man of peace, the man who loves and cares for Creation.' From the very beginning of his pontificate, his concern for the environment was already evident. The need for an ecological conversion Pope Francis' starting point was the adoption of Pope Benedict XVI's idea of a profound cultural shift. According to the Argentine pontiff, our Common Home (i.e., the planet and its environment) is ill because humanity itself is ill. In his 2015 encyclical Laudato Sì , the Pope wrote: "Caring for ecosystems requires a perspective that extends beyond the immediate, because when the focus is solely on […] economic gains, genuine concern for their preservation is often lacking.' Similarly to his German predecessor, Pope Francis advocates for a cultural shift, and it's at that moment that the notion of an ecological conversion pragmatically takes place. However, to practically implement this ecological conversion, Pope Francis suggested that humanity should first recognise the damage caused to the natural world. In Laudato Sì , the Pope said: '[…] we must examine our lives and recognise how we offend God's Creation through our actions […].' The Vatican news outlets' focus on sustainability And it's for this reason that Pope Francis sought to raise awareness about climate change and sustainability, including through the Holy See's daily newspaper L'Osservatore Romano. During Francis' pontificate, the newspaper conformed to the Pope's view of recognising the harm humanity caused to nature. Climate change-driven natural disasters, pollution-related deaths, and harm to ecosystems and biodiversity were just some of the themes that the newspaper covered to improve awareness and trigger the ecological conversion. This was coupled with pieces that provided ethical reflection and inspired readers to change their lifestyle by presenting practical solutions as well as institutional and political action. In fact, Pope Francis consistently emphasised the critical role that policy plays in addressing climate change. In a 2016 speech, the Pope stated: 'Protecting our Common Home requires increasing political consensus.' Therefore, it is not surprising that under Pope Francis, the Vatican has progressively engaged with political facets related to the topics of climate change and sustainability, as highlighted by the Deputy Editorial Director of L'Osservatore Romano, Alessandro Gisotti: "Over time, the Holy See's commitment to climate conferences, especially under Pope Francis, has deepened, reaching a peak with his planned participation in COP28 in Dubai, though he ultimately could not attend due to health reasons." In other words, the Vatican was increasingly becoming more engaged in the fight against climate change. Of course, this included political action, but also – and perhaps more importantly – local action. In his encyclical Laudato Sì , in fact, the Pope highlighted: 'While the existing global system seems unable to take responsibility, local efforts can make a difference. It is at the local level where greater accountability, a strong sense of community, a special capacity for care, and more generous creativity can emerge, along with a profound love for one's own land.' Pope Francis seems to adopt the principle: 'Think globally, act locally', underscoring the importance of local action in fighting climate change. In this context, Gisotti said: 'A subject of particular significance to the Pope, and thus to the Vatican media, is amplifying the voices of grassroots movements around the globe – many led by young men and women – dedicated to environmental protection.' Pope Francis and the Church's evolution But Pope Francis has also led the Church towards a renewed vision – an evolution reflected, for instance, in its approach to homosexuality, to migrants, but also to the relationship between science and faith. The Pope himself described the interrelation between religion and science as effective, underlining that the two share common values and exhibit complementary aspects. Science can learn from religion, and vice versa. In Laudato Sì, the Pope said: 'Science and religion, which offer different approaches to reality, can engage in a rich and mutually beneficial dialogue.' An idea – that of the dialogue – already mentioned by Pope Benedict XVI, which now achieves its fullest expression. But also, an idea that echoes the very first words spoken by Francis in his role as Pope: 'Brothers and sisters, good evening.' With that phrase, more presence than speech, Pope Francis offered a gesture of simplicity, a gesture of fraternity. But most of all, a gesture of dialogue.--Vatican News
Irish Examiner
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
Letters to the Editor: Pope Francis saw the big picture, and put climate change in the foreground
Your letter-writer mentions the Pope's choice of burial in the basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore (Pope Francis took on the challenge we all face — striving to be better Irish Examiner Letters to the Editor, April 25). The legend surrounding the feast of the dedication of this basilica goes back to Pope Liberius (d.366). In a vision to him, Mary, the Theotokos, asked that a church be built where snow would be found on August 5, usually a time of oppressive heat in Rome. We need not believe the legend that it was a dramatic climate change (snow in summer) that first marked this basilica's boundary. But we cannot ignore the evidence of science and our own contemporary experiences of what is happening now to planet Earth. It is a very symbolic burial ground for Francis, who addressed the challenge of climate change in his encyclical letter Laudato Si' of 2015 and his apostolic exhortation eight years later, Laudate Deum, to all people of good will on the climate crisis. Coinciding with the 10th anniversary of Francis's signing of Laudato Si', I am exhibiting a number of my oil paintings in Cobh Library from May 6 to 30 to encourage people to appreciate the seasonal colours of what may seem the undramatic ordinariness of their local environment. I should add that this exhibition wasn't planned as such. It just happened that the library's beautiful exhibition space became unexpectedly available in May. The exhibition is called The Earth is not a Background Only. Fr Peadar O'Callaghan, Carrigtwohill, Cork Fr Peadar O'Callaghan — whose exhibition of paintings in Cobh coincides with the 10th anniversary of Laudato Si' — writes that the basilica of Santa Maria is a highly symbolic burial ground for Pope Francis. Picture: Andreea Alexandru/AP Lost chance for Church credibility among women Pope Francis, 'the man from the ends of the Earth', as he styled himself, was a good man against whom the conservative section of the Catholic Church fought in every way possible to prevent any meaningful structural reform from occurring within the institution. Instead of taking personal initiative in advancing change, he introduced the synodal process, which has brought about little or no structural reform. Whether it was from his own innate fear of Curia resistance, his refusal to consider opening the diaconate or priesthood to women was a lost opportunity in restoring the institutional Catholic Church's credibility among women. He advanced the inclusion of marginalised people within the Church, without tackling the underlying traditional Church doctrine which had excluded them in the first instance. He has promoted enough cardinal electors to secure a likeminded successor but they may not be enough of a united force to successfully resist canny conservative forces concentrated within the Roman Curia. Brendan Butler, Drumcondra, Dublin 9 What's your view on this issue? You can tell us here Church's role in diplomacy It's interesting to note that in 2019, Pope Francis reached out to the Muslim world. This avant garde pope signed a historic declaration of fraternity with the grand imam of al-Azhar. This was the first ever papal visit to the Arabian peninsula. It's often posited that some Western countries assume that religion does not matter in their country to the same extent that it once did ergo it does not matter to the rest of the world. I would counter such a view by saying that the Roman Catholic Church has a massive global spread. It has diplomatic relations with nearly every country and one must always remember that 20pc of the world's population identifies as Catholic. The Church's diplomacy is deep and it is wide, but often it is invisible to the naked eye. The Holy See has a unique convening power that will play out at today's papal funeral. John O'Brien, Clonmel, Co Tipperary All the EU has done is take from Ireland An open letter to the Government and the EU: As an Irish man living in the East of Ireland and thinking what the EU would have in common with older people like me, I have a dream that one day I'll stand in front of all the TDs and address the Dáil/EU, not as a politician, not as an ambassador, not as an envoy, no, just as me. This is unbelievable, to think that Ursula von der Leyen or the European Union would care about Ireland. All they ever did was take from Ireland; we seem to be the European doormat. It should have been recognised as inevitable that the day would come when America would have a president that would want the pharmaceuticals of America to be of revenue benefit to the USA, though these companies were enticed to set up in Ireland with the enticement of favourable taxes and construction of the facilities funded by the Irish taxpayers. Go work it out. I would inform you of how my country has suffered through the years of austerity, that awful word; that the Irish people have suffered in the name of the banks, with no accountability, no justice — well it was everyone's fault — but their money was tossed all over the banks' counters. As a result people lost their homes, lost their jobs, lost their dignity, most emigrated, some died by suicide, while our Government looked on from their plush offices. There was a time, pre-1973, when Ireland was exporting our agricultural produce. Our entry into the EEC changed all of that. Our four sugar factories were closed. Flour manufacturing ended. In my local town our many shoe and boot factories were closed. Vehicle and locomotive construction was ended. Ireland has given away our oil rights, our gas rights, plundered our fishing, closed our coal mining, closed our boat-building plants, and recently closed our peat-briquette-making plants. Now Poland and Germany, along with other countries, are exporters of most of these back to Ireland. Not proud statistics by any means. Nobody, not one of our MEPs, stood up and shouted: 'Stop!' Austerity meant hospital beds were closed. Those who did not have private health insurance were pushed down the road and left to the waters and the wild. No one came to help them. The rural communities are being robbed of their banks and post offices. Garda stations closed... schools in need of upgrading. Our hospitals are heaving with the sick, old people, and children are laying on trolleys and chairs in draughty corridors. Our nursing staff are mentally fatigued, overworked, and exhausted. It's been like this for decades. Our newly-trained doctors and nurses choose to emigrate to where their quality of life far outweighs that of their homeland. Our newly graduated medics are emigrating in large numbers. Our young people cannot afford to buy their own homes. People who paid their taxes and worked hard all their lives, some are now sleeping rough. Where is the justice? I'm inviting Mr/Mrs EU to come and take a grand tour of our 26 counties. Yes, there are nice shopping centres (though some are now derelict), some nice retail parks, lovely scenery, and decimated rural communities, all outside Dublin. Homes where the offspring have long since emigrated and most will never return. Old folks have passed on, homesteads are derelict, farms unused, growing wild. Most of our cities have people sleeping rough and food banks are the only thriving aspect of Irish society, because Ireland took the cruellest cut of all the countries in Europe during the downturn. In 1972, I voted to join the EEC. It was a great idea and Ireland progressed for 20 years, purely by the ambition of the Irish people, until 1994, then this all changed when some not-so-bright spark decided to change from a community to a union. I and the nation were not asked to vote for this change and neither would I have done so. Whoever thought they had the right to do so on my behalf abused my constitutional rights. Yes, Ireland always paid its debts, but at what cost? Politicians looked good telling the EU of our honestly. When the Government started its belt-tightening, it forgot its old people; it hit at the last rung of the ladder, starting with the people who had no one to speak for them. At least Trump is doing his best for Americans. That cannot be said of successive governments in Ireland regarding immigration, hospitals, justice system, education, housing, etc. The Irish people have been failed time and time again by our own governments, with no accountability at all. Very sad and disappointing. Seamus Ward, Dundalk, Co Louth What's your view on this issue? You can tell us here Time we stopped ignoring nuclear option We all know (at least those who are aware and worried about it) that there is not enough gas generation being built to guarantee supply in 2030 and beyond, with support instead for increasing, but unreliable, wind and solar. We may have huge supplies of offshore wind energy but the harnessing of it is the problem. Also, it's not sufficient to know that a source of energy is huge until you've also considered our huge use of it. But there is hope: Most of the advanced world is looking again at the benefits that nuclear energy can bring to their society's needs for clean energy. Isn't it time that Ireland had a look to see why that might be, and stopped ignoring nuclear energy and the developing small modular reactors? Anne Baily, Carrick-on-Suir, Co Tipperary
Daily Maverick
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Daily Maverick
Three ways Pope Francis influenced the global climate movement
At the centre of the social and ecological polycrisis is a religious crisis of the human heart. The death of Pope Francis has been announced by the Vatican. I first met the late Pope Francis at the Vatican after a conference called Saving Our Common Home and the Future of Life on Earth in July 2018. My colleagues and I sensed something momentous was happening at the heart of the church. At that time, I was helping to set up the new Laudato Si' research institute at the Jesuit Hall at the University of Oxford. This institute is named after the pope's 2015 encyclical (a letter to bishops outlining church policy) on climate change. Its mission is rooted in the pope's religiously inspired vision of integral ecology – a multidisciplinary approach that addresses social and ecological issues of equality and climate breakdown. Originating from Argentina, Pope Francis, the first Jesuit pope, witnessed firsthand the destruction of the Amazon and the plight of South America's poorest communities. His concern for justice for vulnerable communities and protection of the planet go hand in hand with his religious leadership. In his first papal letter, Laudato Si', he called for all people, not just Catholics, to pay more attention to the frailty of both our planet and its people. What we need is no less than a cultural revolution, he wrote. As a theologian, I recognise that he inspired significant change in three key ways. 1. At global climate summits It's no coincidence that Pope Francis released Laudato Si' at a crucial moment in 2015 prior to the UN climate summit, Cop21, in Paris. A follow-up exhortation, or official statement, Laudate Deum, was released in October 2023, just before another UN climate summit, Cop28 in Dubai. Did the decisions at these global meetings shift because of the influence of Pope Francis? Potentially, yes. In Laudate Deum, Pope Francis showed both encouragement and some frustration about the achievements of international agreements so far. He berated the weakness of international politics and believes that Cop21 represented a 'significant moment' because the agreement involved everyone. After Cop21, he pointed out how most nations had failed to implement the Paris agreement which called for limiting the global temperature rise in this century to below 2°C. He also called out the lack of monitoring of those commitments and subsequent political inertia. He tried his best to use his prominent position to hold power to account. Promoting a general moral awareness of the need to act in ecologically responsible ways, both in international politics and at the local level is something that previous popes, Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI also did. But, Pope Francis's efforts went beyond that, by connecting much more broadly with grassroots movements. 2. By advocating for Indigenous people Cop28 marked the first time that close to 200 countries agreed to transition away from fossil fuels. Pope Francis's interventions potentially helped shift the needle just a little in the desired direction. His emphasis on listening to Indigenous people may have influenced these gatherings. Compared with previous global climate summits, Cop28 arguably opened up the opportunity to listen to the voices of Indigenous people. However, Indigenous people were still disappointed by the outcomes of Cop28. Pope Francis's lesser-known exhortation Querida Amazonia, which means 'beloved Amazonia', was published in February 2020. This exhortation resulted from his conversations with Amazonian communities and helped put Indigenous perspectives on the map. Those perspectives helped shape Catholic social teaching in the encyclical Fratelli Tutti, which means 'all brothers and sisters', published on October 3 2020. For many people living in developing countries where extractive industries such as oil and gas or mining are rife, destruction of land coincides with direct threats to life. Pope Francis advocated for Indigenous environmental defenders, many of whom have been inspired to act by their strong faith. For example, Father Marcelo Pérez, an Indigenous priest living in Mexico, was murdered by drug dealers just after saying mass on October 23 2023 as part of the cost of defending the rights of his people and their land. While 196 environmental defenders were killed globally in 2023, Pope Francis continued to advocate on behalf of the most marginalised people as well as the environment. 3. By inspiring activism I've been speaking to religious climate activists from different church backgrounds in the UK as part of a multidisciplinary research project on religion, theology and climate change based at the University of Manchester. Most notably, when we asked more than 300 activists representing six different activist groups who most influenced them to get involved in climate action, 61% named Pope Francis as a key influencer. On a larger scale, Laudato Si' gave rise to the Laudato Si' movement which coordinates climate activism across the globe. It has 900 Catholic organisations as well as 10,000 of what are known as Laudato Si' 'animators', who are all ambassadors and leaders in their respective communities. Our institute's ecclesial affiliate, Tomás Insua, based in Assisi, Italy, originally helped pioneer this global Laudato Si' movement. We host a number of ecumenical gatherings which bring together people from different denominations and hopefully motivate churchgoers to think and act in a more climate-conscious way. Nobody knows who the next pope might be. Given the current turmoil in politics and shutting down of political will to address the climate emergency, we can only hope they will build on the legacy of Pope Francis and influence political change for the good, from the grassroots frontline right up to the highest global ambitions. DM This story was first published in The Conversation. Celia Deane-Drummond is a Professor of Theology and Director of Laudato Si' Research Institute at Campion Hall, University of Oxford.
The Sun
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Pope Francis dead UPDATES: Funeral date is set by Cardinals as single word Pontiff will have on tombstone is revealed
Leonardo DiCaprio pays emotional tribute to Pope Francis Leonardo DiCaprio has shared a heartfelt tribute to Pope Francis, hailing him as 'a transformational leader — not only for the Catholic Church, but also for environmental reform and activism.' In an emotional Instagram post, the actor praised the pope's 'deep and unwavering commitment to environmental stewardship,' citing his landmark 2015 encyclical Laudato Si' as a pivotal moment in global climate action. 'His words helped catalyze momentum ahead of the global 2015 COP21 conference, ultimately contributing to the formation of the Paris Agreement,' DiCaprio wrote. The Hollywood star recalled their 2016 meeting during the filming of Before the Flood, calling the conversation 'enlightening, deeply moving and thought provoking.' He also highlighted Pope Francis's follow-up document Laudate Deum, released in 2023, where the pope once again urged 'immediate and decisive climate action.' Calling him 'one of the most extraordinary spiritual leaders of our time,' DiCaprio said the pope's legacy 'will continue to inspire generations of environmentalists around the world.'
