Five years of Laudato sì: May a new way of life arise from the pandemic

Since the anniversary of the encyclical, a special year to "encourage and promote concerted individual and community actions for the care of our common home" and to "promote good practices".

Vatican City (AsiaNews) - Transforming the current time marked by suffering from the pandemic into the occasion for the birth of a new way of life, compassionate, supportive of others, especially the poor, and with a more harmonious relationship with nature, our common home.

This is an extreme synthesis of what Laudato Sì proposes, the encyclical published by Pope Francis five years ago.

Marking the anniversary last Sunday Francis announced "a special year" to reflect on the encyclical, from May 24 this year until May 24 next year. "I invite all people of goodwill to join, to take care of our common home and our most fragile brothers and sisters."

In concrete terms, it is a question of involving dioceses, religious congregations, associations, schools, and other institutions to reflect on the topic and deepen their commitment to safeguarding Creation and promoting an integral ecology.

The special year is promoted by the Dicastery for Integral human development which in a statement notes that "the fifth anniversary of the encyclical comes in the midst of a global pandemic, and its message is as prophetic as in 2015. The Covid- 19 has made it clear how interconnected and interdependent we are all. To begin imagining a post-Covid world, we need above all an integral approach”.

During the year, a program and a public commitment by the various institutions will be launched for a "total sustainability" path to be carried out in 7 years, in the spirit of Laudato sì. Recipients; families, dioceses, schools, universities, hospitals and health facilities, business world, religious orders. In order to "encourage and promote concerted individual and community actions for the care of our common home" and to "promote good practices" in this area, the annual Laudato Sì awards will be established. The first award ceremony will take place at the end of the special year dedicated to the fifth anniversary of the encyclical.

In the end, it encapsulates the answers to the question that Pope Francis asked last May 3. "What kind of world do we want to leave to those who come after us, to children who are growing up? I renew my urgent appeal to respond to the ecological crisis, the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor can no longer wait. Let us take care of creation, a gift from our good creator God”.

Francis himself, last Sunday, recalled that on the website of the Dicastery there is the Prayer of the special Year of the anniversary of Laudato Si '.

Loving God,
Creator of Heaven, Earth, and all therein contained.
Open our minds and touch our hearts,
so that we can 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
as we confront the consequences of the global pandemic.
Make us courageous in embracing
the changes required to seek the common good.
Now more than ever, may we all feel interconnected and interdependent.

Enable us to succeed in listening and responding
to the cry of the Earth and the cry of the poor.
May their current sufferings become the birth-pangs
of a more fraternal and sustainable world.

We pray through Christ our Lord,
under the loving gaze of Mary Help of Christians,

Amen.