On the fifth anniversary of Laudato si', his encyclical dedicated to the environment, Pope Francis announces an entire year to “listen and respond to the cry of the Earth and of the poor”.
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Last year it had coincided with the second global climate strike; this year, by contrast, the anniversary of Laudato si' falls during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Back then, the coincidence had been an opportunity for the Vatican to express its support for the young people marching and fighting for the climate; this year it is the occasion for a momentous announcement.
It was made by Pope Francis himself, after Sunday's recitation of the Regina Coeli, which throughout the emergency period he led for the faithful from the Vatican Apostolic Library.
"Thanks to the initiative of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development," the Pope said, "the 'Laudato si' Week', which we have just celebrated, will blossom into a special anniversary year of Laudato si' — a special year to reflect on the encyclical, from 24 May of this year until 24 May of next year.
I invite all people of goodwill to join, to care for our common home and for our most fragile brothers and sisters."
Published by Pope Francis on 24 May 2015, the environmental encyclical Laudato si' thus turns five at a crucial moment for the planet and for humanity. A moment that finds us engaged in fighting global warming and, at the same time, a virus that has circled the globe in a matter of months. Common enemies, with a common root: human action.
It comes as no surprise, then, that the pontiff has chosen precisely this occasion to proclaim a special year dedicated to the care of creation. To encourage good practices to be carried forward during this special year, a letter has been drafted, signed by Monsignor Bruno-Marie Duffé, Secretary of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, calling for a "period of more intense prayer and action for the benefit of the common home", "to reaccustom ourselves to praying", "to reflect on our lifestyles", "to undertake prophetic actions, calling for courageous choices". Among the concrete examples proposed are "a special Mass or a pilgrimage on foot, sustainability practices or mobilisations to respond to the cry of the earth as well as the cry of the poor, to be carried out during this special time".
A decision perfectly in keeping with the Pope's constant commitment as a faithful spokesperson for the cry of suffering of the Earth, of the poorest and of migrants. So much so that — in his Laudato si' itself — he coined the concept of integral ecology, referring to an approach to nature that never sets aside the human, social and cultural dimension. An approach that has become his modus operandi during these years so delicate for environmental equilibria, and which the Pope has pursued through concrete and symbolic gestures, such as when we saw him speaking about the environment with Fidel Castro, gifting his encyclical to Donald Trump, and convening a zero-impact synod to defend the future of the Amazon.
To accompany this special year dedicated to the care of the planet, the Pope has written a prayer, which speaks of "creative solidarity" and "the pursuit of the common good", inviting everyone to recite it. Here it is:
Loving God, Creator of heaven, earth and all they contain. Open our minds and touch our hearts, so that we may be part of creation, your gift. Be present to those in need in these difficult times, especially the poorest and most vulnerable. Help us to show creative solidarity in facing the consequences of this global pandemic. Make us courageous in embracing changes directed towards the pursuit of the common good. Now more than ever, may we feel that we are all interconnected and interdependent. Grant that we may succeed in listening and responding to the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor. May the present sufferings be the birth pangs of a more fraternal and sustainable world. Under the loving gaze of Mary, Help of Christians, we pray to you through Christ Our Lord. Amen.
During these months of the epidemic, the Pope has repeatedly underscored humanity's responsibilities in this crisis, which has laid bare our fragility. At the same time, Francis has always acknowledged the sacrifices and encouraged the efforts of so many, in the name of a necessary unity and the interdependence of all. "We have realised that we are on the same boat, all of us fragile and disoriented, but at the same time important and needed, all of us called to row together, each of us in need of comforting the other," he had said in a deserted and surreal St Peter's Square on 27 March. A moment and an image among the most symbolic and evocative of these months, destined without doubt to go down in history.
Before the coronavirus upended all plans, for this fifth anniversary of Laudato si', Pope Francis had organised a visit to the diocese of Acerra, in the land of fires. These are territories particularly affected by environmental degradation and crime, which the pontiff had flown over in 2014 on the occasion of his visit to Caserta. A trip merely postponed, Bergoglio assured, as on Sunday he sent his blessing to the entire diocesan community "while we await meeting as soon as possible". A promise that, at this moment, also carries the flavour of hope.
