Pope Francis designated May 24, 2020 through May 24, 2021 as Laudato Sí Year to commemorate the fifth anniversary of his landmark encyclical on the care for our common home. The following is an excerpt from Laudato Sí and a reflection provided by the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Philadelphia.
Pope Francis’s Laudato Sí #95: The natural environment is a collective good, the patrimony of all humanity and the responsibility of everyone. If we make something our own, it is only to administer it for the good of all.
Reflection: The air, water, soil, minerals and all living beings of the natural world are an inheritance we have received from God. Our ancestors passed on the created world to us. What kind of ancestor do you want to be for those who live in the 22nd century?
“Creation is not some possession that
we can lord over for our own pleasure;
nor, even less, is it the property
of only some people, the few:
creation is a gift,
it is the marvelous gift
that God has given us
so that we will take care of it
and harness it for the benefit of all,
always with great respect and gratitude.”
—Pope Francis