Integral ecology. Theological-pastoral reflections on the 800 years of the Canticle of the Creatures and 10 years of Laudato Si’

Abstract

Celebrating the 800th anniversary of St. Francis of Assisi’s Canticle of the Creatures and the 10th anniversary of Pope Francis’s encyclical Laudato si’, this article aims to highlight some common points that can serve as a basis for reflection and inspiration for pastoral practice amidst the profound ecological crisis that our planet is undergoing. Thus, following a logical-theological order, we will begin with an analysis of reality (the starting point: the ecological crisis) before focusing on the foundation of all theology (the foundational experience: universal fatherhood) and then concentrating on what emerges as a cosmo-anthropological corollary of the previous statement (the goal: universal fraternity). To be more specific, we will focus on two more concrete issues that range from the theological to the ethical-spiritual (the main obstacle: ecological sin, and the urgent challenge: caring for the most vulnerable), concluding with a reflection on our self-understanding in the world and how we approach reality (the epistemological shift: the contemplative ratio). And, the final word in the face of this crisis will be a new and realistic song of hope.