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 #164: Beginning in the middle of the last century and overcoming many difficulties, there has been a growing conviction that our planet is a homeland and that humanity is one people living in a common home. An interdependent world not only makes us more conscious of the negative effects of certain lifestyles and models of production and consumption which affect us all; more importantly, it motivates us to ensure that solutions are proposed from a global perspective, and not simply to defend the interests of a few countries. Interdependence obliges us to think of one world with a common plan.
Reflection: This excerpt challenges us to think of ourselves first and foremost as global citizens and upholds the value of interdependence. This week think of yourself and your household as global citizens. What difference does this make as you watch the news?