Heart-to-Heart

THE POPE INSPIRES POSITIVE CLIMATE ACTION WITH LAUNCH OF 'LAUDATE DEUM'

The Pope's recent hard-hitting 'exhortation' speaks truth to power and to individual hearts, by seeing and saying things as they really are. Published on 4th October 2023, the feast day of St Francis of Assisi, who was known for his care for the natural world and the simplicity of his lifestyle, 'Laudate Deum' (Praise God) urges the rich world to make profound changes to tackle the climate crisis and calls on governments to make Cop28 in Dubai a turning point.

Environmentalist, author, and leader of the climate campaign group 350.org, Bill Mckibben said of Pope Francis' prior publication, 'Laudato Si' published in 2015, that it was one of the most important landmarks in the climate catastrophe as it helped galvanise attention around the universality of the crisis. He also said that "It's high time for the human heart to do its job. And that's what we need this leadership for, so badly." However, in Laudate Deum the Pope says, "Eight years after Laudato Si ... I have realised that our responses have not been adequate, while the world in which we live is collapsing and may be nearing the breaking point."

In this new exhortation, 'Laudate Deum', Pope Francis pulls no punches as he draws both on scripture and spiritual writings as well as presenting clear, intelligent, scientific data in an easy-to-read but no-nonsense way, from sources including the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the United Nations Environment Programme and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Like a biblical prophet who's not afraid of speaking out and is able to both see the world as it is and the way God intends it to be, he calls on us to repent, change and live according to God's will. And he challenges head-on all climate change deniers, including those within the faith community, and countries like the United States for their disproportionate impact on the climate and their lack of responsibility especially on the poor countries whom they are affecting the most.

"This is a global social issue and one intimately related to the dignity of human life." He writes, "I want to reiterate two convictions that I repeat over and over again: 'Everything is connected' and 'No one is saved alone.'" He again calls on us to recognise, live by and re-affirm the principle of the interconnectedness and interdependence of ALL creation. "God has united us to all his creatures ... human life is incomprehensible and unsustainable without other creatures." Quoting from Laudato Si' he writes: "For 'we are part of nature, included in it and thus in constant interaction with it,' and therefore 'we not look at the world from without but from within.' "

Recognising that "every little bit helps" he also calls on people of faith to take personal accountability for their day-to-day living, recognising that efforts amongst our families to consume responsibly and reduce pollution and waste create a 'new culture' which is transformative throughout society and makes us a whole, receptive to larger changes.

But he also speaks to the heart when he asks us to both exercise our humility and commune with God in the world. "The universe unfolds in God, who fills it completely ... there is a mystical meaning to be found in a leaf, in a mountain trail, in a dewdrop, in a poor person's face". . His exhortation concludes: "'Praise God' is the title of this letter. For when human beings claim to take God's place, they become their own worst enemies."

"The World sings of an infinite Love: how can we fail to care for it?"

You can read his full 10 page exhortation HERE.