Laudato Si

The title is Greek to me but some people thought it was Latin, which is how most papers by the Holy See are written, but today we found out it was written in Italian. This happens to be the second encyclical written by Pope Francis. Laudato Si means Praised Be and today I attended a meeting where a speaker, Jim Broderick King, would explain Pope Francis' 128 page encyclical.

Talk about being a fish out of water. I had no idea what was being discussed and jotted down words in hope that later I could try and decipher what I had written or what was said.

One of the things that had nothing to do with the encyclical was that Pope Frances, when he visited the United States, had wanted to enter from Mexico but it could not be arranged. That would have been interesting. We were shown a picture with three recent Popes. Each Pope had a caption beneath his picture: John Paul II, this is what we believe; Pope Benedict XVI, this is why we believe; an Pope Francis, now go do it.


Evidently, the encyclical is about our earth and how everyone is responsible to do their best to preserve it. 
The speaker mentioned Fr. James Martin who has tried to explain the encyclical and what it means in ten main points of the book.

1)  There is now a spiritual perspective to our environment with a religious point of view. In the past it has been political, scientific and economics, but now we will have religion also.
2)  Climate change has an impact and is felt mostly in developing countries, i.e. the poor.
3)  The technological mindset is the key to human existence yet not much thought has been given to how it will effect our world. We need to live in moderation and be happy with what we have.
4)  Authoritative teaching is how we grew up but modern day problems will now be needed to be looked at in a different way. Environment has not had a place in religion, but now will.
5)  We have Christian Biblical roots and Pope Francis brings in the Gospel of Creation. "keep the earth" is letting us know we should take care of the earth.
6)  Everything is linked to creation and every one  is connected. Our decisions has an effect and we are part of it. Money interest and ruination of the planet are connected.
7)  Embrace science yet accept the Bible's teaching, i.e. evolution.
8)  Our world has become one of selfishness and indifference.
9)  There has to be global dialogue and solidarity among all nations.
10) Everyone is responsible for our planet and new ways must be found of looking at things. As Pope Francis commented, "the earth  is an immense pile of filth."

Jim Broderick King mentioned that food, water, and land are not commodities. He said that it is not so much what Pope Frances says that is remembered but his actions. The meeting ended with the idea that mercy is needed for those doing things we do not understand. He gave the example of the woman in the Bible with five husbands. Even though it was wrong, he treated the woman with mercy.

I still felt as if I did not understand everything and will probably have to do some research on the encyclical
writings of Pope Francis, but then I saw something I did understand. I got up to throw away my trash and saw the trash can filled to the top with paper plates and plastic. Of any meetings, this one speaking of taking care of our earth, should have had dishes and silverware that were not disposable. I realize that we, me included, take the easy way out and we don't think of the environment! I wonder what the earth will look like in fifty years if we do not take responsibility to take care of our earth now.

"Climate change is a terrible

problem and it absolutely needs

to be solved. It deserves to be

a huge priority."

Bill Gates