Laudato si'
| Laudato si' Central Italian : Praise Be to You Encyclical letter of Pope Francis  |
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|---|---|
| Date | 24 May 2015 |
| Argument | On the environment and sustainable development |
| Pages | 184 |
| Encyclical number | 2 of 2 of the pontificate |
| Text | |
Laudato si' (Medieval Central Italian for "Praise be to you") is the second encyclical of Pope Francis. The encyclical has the subtitle "On Care For Our Common Home". In it, the Pope critiques consumerism and irresponsible development, laments environmental degradation and global warming, and calls all people of the world to take "swift and unified global action".
The encyclical, dated 24 May 2015, was officially published at noon on 18 June 2015 accompanied by a news conference. The Vatican released the document in Italian, German, English, Spanish, French, Polish, Portuguese and Arabic.
The encyclical is the second published by Francis, after Lumen fidei ("Light of Faith"), which was released in 2013. Since Lumen fidei was largely the work of Francis's predecessor Benedict XVI, Laudato si' is generally viewed as the first encyclical that is entirely Francis's work.
The title of the social encyclical is an Umbrian phrase from Saint Francis of Assisi's 13th-century "Canticle of the Sun" (also called the Canticle of the Creatures), a poem and prayer in which God is praised for the creation of the different creatures and aspects of the Earth.
The tone of the Pope's phrasing has been described as "cautious and undogmatic, and he specifically calls for discussion and dialogue." For example, he states in the encyclical (#188):
There are certain environmental issues where it is not easy to achieve a broad consensus. Here I would state once more that the Church does not presume to settle scientific questions or to replace politics. But I am concerned to encourage an honest and open debate so that particular interests or ideologies will not prejudice the common good.
He adds that "Although the post-industrial period may well be remembered as one of the most irresponsible in history, nonetheless there is reason to hope that humanity at the dawn of the twenty-first century will be remembered for having generously shouldered its grave responsibilities." Francis does state that concern for the natural world is no longer "'optional' but is an integral part of the Church teaching on social justice."
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