Press reports have indicated that the Catholic bishops of Bangladesh have launched a campaign to plant 400,000 trees across the country during the current special “Laudato Si’’ anniversary year, in commemoration of its 5th anniversary.
Several countries and organizations in the world have seized every opportunity to highlight the importance of this landmark encyclical as it saves the world from poverty and ensures a thriving world.
On May 24, 2015, Pope Francis signed his landmark encyclical, namely Laudato Si” which is meant basically to the entire world since it represents a remarkable challenge for all people to consider in a serious way that “our future on this planet will be determined by how we treat all of nature, including our fellow human beings.’’ In the case of climate change and other environmental issues addressed in the encyclical, it is important to note that “how we treat the environment today will affect the world tomorrow, and beyond.”
“Laudati Si', mi Signore" (Praise be to you, my Lord). These are the words that open Pope Francis' encyclical on ecology and care for God's creation. The encyclical focuses on a number of important themes. It renews relationships with God, with one another, and with the created world. When God created the world and entrusted it to us as a gift, He gave us the responsibility to care for and protect it and all people, who are part of creation as well as protecting human dignity.
As people living in poverty have contributed least to climate change, they have been seriously impacted by it as they suffer from pollution, lack of access to clean water, and hunger. Being one human family, we have a shared responsibility for others and for creation. The rich countries have a responsibility to lend a helping hand to the poor nations who have problems related to economy, violence, and food shortages which is basically caused by negligence of caring for our common home.
"LAUDATO SI" REFLECTS POPE FRANCIS' PERSPICACITY
As the Encyclical Letter of Pope Francis, "Laudato si'" addresses the protection of the environment (the care of our common home), it also discusses the causes of the current ecological challenges, and adds an original analysis of the social, cultural, ethical and spiritual dimensions that are associated with the degradation of the environment. The Pope’s vision has the potential to mobilize people and governments towards a joint action that is not limited to technological fixes, as it considers new development models capable of addressing the deep roots of the current world’s crises and calls for a change in lifestyle and consumption, once effected they can make a huge change in our societies and the future generations to come.
POPE: "WE HEAR BOTH THE CRY OF THE EARTH AND THE CRY OF THE POOR"
In 2014, Pope Francis said, “We are faced with two separate crises, one environmental and the other social, but rather with one complex crisis which is both social and environmental… Today, however, we have to realize that a true ecological approach always becomes a social approach; it must integrate questions of justice in debates on the environment, so as to hear both the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor.”
With Pope Francis’ assertion that the cry of the poor is associated with the cry of the Earth, it is optimum time to deeply comprehend and grasp this landmark encyclical, namely Laudato Si”, so as to save our common home from the catastrophe lurking around the corner. This necessitates undertaking the necessary changes that reverse the upcoming ecological changes and help the poor ensure a better and a prosperous future.
Will the world leaders consider the Encyclical Letter of Pope Francis, "Laudato Si” and reverse all projects, particularly in the field of industry, that contribute to adverse climate changes and consequently save the world from the imminent dangers that await the generations to come? Will the world listen to Pope Francis’ call to eliminate nuclear weapons so as to create a safer world? Will the world leaders heed the Pope’s call for the attainment of world peace?
Pope Francis perspicacity and wisdom should be emulated. It is the right time to do so for the world is tired of injustices, wars, persecutions, and violence.
