Catholic Social Teaching
What does the Church teach?
Columban team plants a tree in Fiji
The emphasis of Catholic Social Teaching for more than a century was on social and political justice, for the poor, oppressed and working people. Today we recognise that justice has to be extended to all of creation, especially with the 2015 publication of the papal encyclical, Laudato Si' with the subtitle "on care for our common home". It is imperative we understand our place on Earth in the light of new understandings about the connectedness of all life.
Human beings cannot flourish in an impoverished and depleted world. The natural world provides us with food, medicines, industrial resources and clothing. But it also allows us to be more fully human in every other aspect of life.
It inspires our minds to creativity – poetry, music and art - through beauty and awe, it drives our curiosity through the mysteries of life still waiting to be solved and it reveals to us the face of the Creator, instilling in us a humbleness when faced with a God that can create such an astonishing universe.
A short two-page Introduction to Catholic Social Teaching produced by the Irish Bishops' Conference.
Inspiration from St Francis of Assisi
"Praise be to you my Lord, with all your creatures," prayed St. Francis of Assisi in the 13th century. With this simple but profound prayer, he encouraged believers of many generations to recognise creation as the fruit of God's eternal Love. Pope Francis took his name from St Francis.
Italian for "Praised Be," Laudato Si' is the name of Pope Francis' encyclical on caring for our common home — Planet Earth. The letter is addressed to "every person living on this planet" and calls for a global dialogue about how we are shaping the future of our planet through our daily actions and decisions.
Quotes from Laudato Si'
Laudato Si' is Pope Francis' passionate call to humanity for a change in direction. Published in 2015 in the leadup to the United Nations Climate talks in Paris, it called for humanity to hear "the cry of the Earth" and "the cry of the poor."
"The entire material universe speaks of God's love, his boundless affection for us. Soil, water, mountains: everything is, as it were, a caress of God." LS #84
Christians "realise that their responsibility within creation, and their duty towards nature and the Creator, are an essential part of their faith." LS, #64
"We have only one heart, and the same wretchedness which leads us to mistreat an animal will not be long in showing itself in our relationships with other people. Every act of cruelty towards any creature is contrary to human dignity." LS #92
"There has been a tragic rise in the number of migrants seeking to flee from the growing poverty caused by environmental degradation." LS #25
"There can be no renewal of our relationship with nature without a renewal of humanity itself. LS #118
What is an ecological conversion?
St George's School in Maida Vale attends an environmental march through London in April 2023
'Ecological conversion' was a term first used in the Catholic Church by St. John Paul II during his papacy in his World Peace Day message on 17 January 2001. He highlighted how "humanity has disappointed God's expectations" by devastating plains and valleys, polluting water and air, and disfiguring the Earth's habitat." He said, "We must therefore encourage and support the 'ecological conversion' which in recent decades has made humanity more sensitive to the catastrophe to which it has been heading'"
In Laudato Si', Pope Francis echoes St. John Paul II, saying, what everyone needs is an "'ecological conversion,' whereby the effects of their encounter with Jesus Christ become evident in their relationship with the world around them" (LS #217).
Season of Creation
Season of Creation is a time when Christians renew our relationship with the Creator and with creation, through celebration, conversion and commitment together. It is an annual ecumenical celebration of prayer and action for our common home.
It begins on 1 September, World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, and ends on 4 October, the feast of St Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of ecology beloved by many Christian denominations. Individuals and communities are invited to participate through prayer, sustainability projects and campaigning on an environmental issue.
Laudato Si' Movement
The movement brings together a broad range of Catholic organisations and members from all over the world. They undertake a journey of 'ecological conversion'. Laudato Si' has been and continues to be the cornerstone of the movement. The movement's aim is: To inspire and mobilise the Catholic community to care for our common home and achieve climate and ecological justice, in collaboration with all people of good will. Valuing and conserving biodiversity is a part of this.
Cover of Wailing of God's creatures
The environment encyclical of 2015, Laudato Si', contained a chapter on biodiversity.
This was picked up in the document, 'The Wailing of God's Creatures', commissioned to the Laudato Si' Research Institute by Catholic organisations CIDSE, CAFOD, and the Global Catholic Climate Movement.
Laudate Deum launched
On 4 October 2023, the Feast of St Francis, Pope Francis launched a new document - an Apostolic Exhortation on the climate crisis.
"The world sings of an infinite Love: how can we fail to care for it?" LD, #65
Creation theologian Elizabeth Johnson said in May 2023
"Since religious traditions at their best are bearers of wisdom about ultimate meaning and lay out a roadmap for how to live a good life, most of the world's religions have resources that can nurture ecological care."
