Pope Francis Issues Earth Day Call to Action, Urging Catholics to Protect the Environment

On Earth Day 2024, Pope Francis released a follow-up document to his groundbreaking 2015 encyclical Laudato Si', calling on Catholics worldwide to protect the environment through prayer, gardening, and eco-friendly practices. The document, released on the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of ecology, builds upon the themes of the original encyclical which focused on care for the natural world and issues like climate change and environmental degradation.

In a social media post accompanying the document's release, Pope Francis noted that while his generation has bequeathed many monetary riches, they have failed in their duty to safeguard the planet. "We must all become artisans and caretakers of our common home," the pontiff wrote, echoing Laudato Si's call for individuals, communities, and governments to take responsibility for nature.

The Vatican document outlines five concrete ways for Catholics to celebrate Earth Day and live out the message of Laudato Si' in their daily lives: going on a hike or nature walk, creating a "Mary Garden" with plants and flowers honoring the Blessed Mother, deeply reflecting on the encyclical's themes, taking the St. Francis Pledge to care for God's creation, and learning about environmentalist saints like St. Kateri Tekakwitha. Pope Francis also urged world leaders to "act with courage, operate with justice, and always tell the truth to people" when addressing ecological issues.

Why this matters: The Pope's Earth Day message comes as the world faces a growing climate crisis that could push up to 132 million people into extreme poverty in the next decade. The document seeks to mobilize the world's 1.3 billion Catholics to take practical action in protecting the environment as a moral and spiritual imperative.

Catholic Climate Action: Catholic organizations are already responding to the Pope's call. Caritas Australia has released a Laudato Si' Action Plan to foster sustainability, while also advocating for the Australian government to address climate-related loss and damage impacting vulnerable communities. The Halton Catholic District School Board in Canada is holding an Earth Week with environmentally-friendly activities and fundraisers for families in need. As Pope Francis' follow-up document re-energizes the faithful this Earth Day, it spotlights the unique role Catholics can play as stewards of God's creation in confronting the pressing ecological challenges facing our common home.

Key Takeaways

• Pope Francis released a follow-up to Laudato Si' on Earth Day 2024.
• The document calls Catholics to protect the environment through prayer, gardening, and eco-practices.
• Pope urged world leaders to act with courage, justice, and honesty on ecological issues.
• The document aims to mobilize 1.3 billion Catholics to take action on the climate crisis.
• Catholic organizations are responding with sustainability plans and environmental initiatives.