Pope Francis’ Integral Ecology
Pope Francis’ Integral Ecology
Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio (Buenos Aires, December 17, 1936 – Vatican City, April 21, 2025) has been, since March 13, 2013, the 266th Pope of the Catholic Church and Bishop of Rome, 8th Sovereign of the Vatican City State, Primate of Italy, in addition to the other titles proper to the Roman Pontiff.
He is the first Jesuit Pope, the first from Latin America and the first non-European in over a thousand years. He is known for his simple style, his closeness to the poor and his strong commitment to social, environmental and interreligious dialogue issues.
Pope Francis can be defined as the Pope who has traced the fundamental principles of the ecological conversion of modern thought, especially thanks to his encyclical Laudato Sì (2015). This document represents one of the most profound and systematic reflections of the Catholic Church on the environment, climate change and man’s responsibility towards creation.
Laudato Sì addresses the issue of caring for our common home, that is, the environment and creation. The main principles that emerge from this text are:
1. Interconnection of all creation
Pope Francis emphasizes that everything is connected: human beings, nature, the economy, culture, society. You cannot care for the environment without taking into account social justice and vice versa. “Everything is connected.” (LS 91).
2. Integral ecology
This is the heart of Laudato Sì: an approach that integrates environmental, economic, social, cultural and spiritual dimensions. Ecology is not just about trees and animals, but also human dignity, social life and relationships. “There can be no authentic ecology without social justice.” (LS 49).
3. Individual and collective responsibility
Every person has the duty to contribute to the protection of creation with sustainable daily choices, but governments and businesses must also act with courage and foresight.
4. Preferential option for the poor
The poor are the most affected by environmental disasters, despite having contributed the least to the ecological crisis. Climate justice is also an ethical issue. “The cry of the earth and the cry of the poor” are inseparable. (LS 49).
5. Ecological spirituality
It is not just a question of “technical” ecology, but also of a conversion of the heart. Man is called to live in harmony with creation, recognizing it as a gift from God.
6. Criticism of the technocratic paradigm
Pope Francis questions the model of development based on profit, efficiency and the domination of technology, which often ignores ecological and human limits.
7. Culture of care
We need a culture of care that puts solidarity, sobriety, the beauty of simple life and respect for every creature at its center.
Ultimately, the ecological thought of Pope Francis, expressed above all in the encyclical Laudato Sì, is based precisely on an idea of integral ecology, which unites care for the environment with social justice and human dignity. He calls for a profound ecological conversion, which involves not only actions, but also the hearts and lifestyles of people. For Pope Francis, everything is connected: environmental degradation, poverty and indifference are signs of a broader crisis in our relationship with Creation. His vision proposes a new way of inhabiting the world, based on responsibility, solidarity and respect for every creature.
Guido Bissanti