Pope Francis:

• Calls on all who live on this planet to enter into dialogue about our common home.

• Comments on the importance of Saint Francis of Assisi, and names him “the example par excellence of care for the vulnerable and of an integral ecology lived out joyfully and authentically,” thus stating clearly one of the basic themes of the encyclical, the relationship between social justice and care for the environment.

• Says “Saint Francis shows us just how inseparable the bond is between concern for nature, justice for the poor, commitment to society, and interior peace”

• Reminds us that unless, like Saint Francis, we approach nature and the environment with an openness to awe and wonder, “our attitude will be that of masters, consumers, ruthless exploiters, unable to set limits on their immediate needs”

• Says we need “a new dialogue about how we are shaping the future of our planet”

• “Obstructionist attitudes, even on the part of believers, can range from denial of the problem to indifference, nonchalant resignation or blind confidence in technical solutions. We require a new and universal solidarity”

Themes:

• The intimate relationship between the poor and the fragility of the planet

• The conviction that everything in the world is connected

• The critique of new paradigms and forms of power derived from technology

• The call to seek other ways of understanding the economy and progress

• The value proper to each creature

• The human meaning of ecology

• The need for forthright and honest debate

• The throwaway culture and the proposal of a new lifestyle”

• Pollution and climate change

• Fresh drinking Water

• Loss of biodiversity (ALL creatures are connected, and that all are dependent on one another)

• The decline in the quality of human life and the breakdown of society (global inequality)

• Society’s focus on technology, power, progress, market growth, and consumerism are not “good” in and of themselves, as witnessed by the development of the “use and throw away culture.”

• Technological development must be accompanied by a development in human responsibility, values and conscience. There is not an infinite supply of the earth’s goods.

• The end result is witnessed in global hunger, poverty and the deterioration of our planet.

• God has given earth to us, and we must use it with respect for its original good purpose. 

• We are not called to mastery over the world, but to responsible stewardship. 

• “There can be no renewal of our relationship with nature without a renewal of humanity itself. to feel responsible for the world, human beings must first truly understand who they are."

•  Interdependence: Increase our awareness that everything is related; everything is connected.

• The common good: Refocus our priorities on living in solidarity with every one and every thing; with a preferential option for the poorest of our brothers and sisters

• Justice between generations:  Broaden our awareness of the impact our decisions have. and - intergenerational solidarity as the notion of the common good extended to future generations

•  Reject consumerism: Start living a new lifestyle, encouraging individuals and groups to reject consumerism, reminding all that “purchasing is always a moral - and not simply an economic act”

• New behaviors:

  • a new reverence for life

  • the firm resolve to achieve sustainability

  • the quickening of the struggle for justice and peace

  • the joyful celebration of life

  • live a life marked by simplicity, moderation, and being at peace with one’s self

  • live a balanced lifestyle, seeking a serene harmony with creation

  • learn from different religious traditions that “less is more”

  • live in “universal fraternity” to all creatures, even the wind, sun and clouds

  • education regarding the Covenant between humanity and the environment

  • recognize that “to be serenely present to each reality, however small it may be, opens us to much greater horizons of understanding.