Scottish Catholic Observer

Pope Francis is expected to warn that mankind faces ‘unprecedented destruction’ from climate change in his encyclical on the environment.

The Holy Father said on Sunday that his encyclical on the care of creation is not just for some, but is addressed to all, and serves as an invitation to pay more attention to environmental destruction and recovery.

“This encyclical is addressed to all,” the Pope said, and invited the world to participate in its publication ‘with a renewed attention to environmental degradation, but also to recovery’ of one’s own territory.

“Let us pray so that everyone may receive (the encyclical’s) message and grow in responsibility toward the common home God has entrusted to us,” he added.

The full 192-page encyclical, Laudato Si’, on the care of the common home was officially released at the Vatican yesterday morning, but an Italian magazine leaked a draft version on Monday.

A Vatican spokesman described the publication of the draft by L’Espresso magazine as a ‘heinous act,’ adding that the leaked document was ‘not the final text.’

Official launch

At the official launch of the encyclical on Thursday, a Catholic, an Orthodox Christian and an atheist helped to present it. The Pope, speaking during an audience with priests in Rome, said the line-up reflected the fact that ‘we need unity to protect creation.’

Speaking ahead of the official release, SCIAF Director Alistair Dutton said it came at a ‘crucial time.’

“Pope Francis has repeatedly urged us to strive for a more just world, founded on the intrinsic dignity of each person, with social, economic and environmental justice at its heart,” he said. “The new encyclical follows the Church’s long tradition of teaching on caring for each other, creation, and the most vulnerable among us.”

Draft

The 192-page leaked draft of the encyclical suggests Pope Francis demands humanity takes responsibility for the earth, and stops contributing to its destruction through man made climate change.

The document also says that ‘the most extraordinary scientific progress and the most prodigious economic growth don’t necessarily give authentic social and moral progress to humanity’ and that basic fact requires an ‘urgency and necessity of a radical change in human conduct’ and ‘a dialogue about how we’re building the future of our planet.’

“We’ve glossed over the power relationship of a capitalistic society, and it’s put us on the path to not only destroy creation but humanity as well,” says the document which repeatedly refers to Earth as our ‘home’, and warns that many of ‘our problems are intimately linked to a throw-away culture.’

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—This story ran in full in the June 19 edition print of the SCO, available in parishes.