The Pope’s September 2024 prayer intention: For the cry of the earth
"The cry of the wounded Earth is becoming increasingly alarming, and calls for decisive and urgent action."
" Let us pray that each of us might listen with our hearts to the cry of the earth and of the victims of environmental disasters and climate change, making a personal commitment to care for the world we inhabit."
Pope Francis
In the 2015 encyclical 'Laudato Si : Care For Our Common Home', Pope Francis synthesized decades of Church teaching.
It addresses a variety of environmental problems, such as:
climate change
decline in the quality of human life
loss of biodiversity
pollution, waste and the throwaway culture
water
In this letter, Pope Francis asks everyone on the planet to think about how our actions are affecting the planet and the world's poorest people. Every aspect of creation gives praise to God, and everything is interconnected. Taking care of creation is part of our Christian calling.
The Holy Father observes in his message that the poor bear the brunt of these natural disasters, highlighting in particular those who are compelled to flee their homes because of heat waves, droughts, or floods. He goes on to say that we need to take a comprehensive approach to our response, incorporating "social, economic, and political" as well as ecological action.
“God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good.” (Gen 1:31)
'Creation and Environment' are one of the seven principles of Catholic Social Teaching, which are based on the Scriptures, shaped by the discernment of church authorities, and impacted by grassroots movements. It serves as our moral compass and directs us in how to express our faith in the world. Pope Francis has expressed that Catholic Social Teaching is essential to resolving the problems the modern world faces. He encourages everyone to have a conversation in society about the best ways to address these problems facing the world, inviting us all to care for our common home.
The patron saint of ecology, Saint Francis of Assisi, is cited by Pope Francis as an example of someone who lived in harmony and communion with the whole of creation. Laudato Si, which means "praised be", is taken from one of his prayers about our sister, Mother Earth.
"Praised be You, my Lord,
through our Sister Mother Earth,
who sustains and governs us,
and who produces various fruit
with coloured flowers and herbs."
The Canticle of Creatures
St. Francis of Assisi
A prayer for our Earth
"All-powerful God, you are present in the whole universe and in the smallest of your creatures.
You embrace with your tenderness all that exists.
Pour out upon us the power of your love, that we may protect life and beauty.
Fill us with peace, that we may live as brothers and sisters, harming no one.
O God of the poor, help us to rescue the abandoned and forgotten of this earth, so precious in your eyes.
Bring healing to our lives, that we may protect the world and not prey on it, that we may sow beauty, not pollution and destruction.
Touch the hearts of those who look only for gain at the expense of the poor and the earth.
Teach us to discover the worth of each thing, to be filled with awe and contemplation, to recognize that we are profoundly united with every creature as we journey towards your infinite light.
We thank you for being with us each day.
Encourage us, we pray, in our struggle for justice, love and peace."
Pope Francis
Laudato Si
24 May 2015
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