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Catholic approach to Climate and the Environment

An issue of Social Justice

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Catholic Social Teaching�on Care for Creation

Biblical and Theological Foundations
Pope John Paul II and Care for Creation as a Moral Responsibility
Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Francis and Laudato Si’
Key Catholic Principles regarding Environmental Care
Living out the Church’s Teaching

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Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you. even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

Jesus Christ did not speak directly in modern terms like “environment,” “climate change,” or “ecology”, but His teachings and actions reveal a deep respect for creation and point toward a theology of care for the earth. Christians often understand environmental stewardship as flowing naturally from Christ’s message of love, justice, and reconciliation.

Creation Belongs to God

Jesus consistently acknowledged God as Creator and sustainer of all life (Matthew 6:26–30).

His parables often used nature—seeds, birds, lilies, soil, trees, weather—to show God’s care for even the smallest parts of creation.

“Look at the birds of the air… consider the lilies of the field…” (Matthew 6:26–28).

2. Humanity’s Role as Stewards

He taught that authority is service, not exploitation (Mark 10:42–45). Applied to creation, this suggests humans are caretakers, not owners.

Jesus reaffirmed the Genesis call to stewardship, not domination (Genesis 2:15: “to till and keep” the garden).

Jesus sided with the poor and marginalized, who are often most affected by environmental degradation (Luke 4:18). “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free,.”

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Biblical and Theological Foundation

Gen 2:15 “The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.”

(Humans bear responsibility for protecting creation)

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Biblical Foundations

Deuteronomy 22: 4,6 “You shall not see your neighbor’s donkey or ox fallen on the road and ignore it; you must help in lifting it up…If, while walking along, you come across a bird’s nest with young birds or eggs in it, in any tree or on the ground, and the mother bird is sitting on them, you shall not take away the mother bird along with her brood.” (Duty to care for God’s creation)
Deuteronomy 10:14 “Look, the heavens, even the highest heavens, belong to the LORD, your God, as well as the earth and everything on it.”
Leviticus 25:23 the land is mine, and you are but resident aliens and under my authority.

(The Earth belongs to God, not to humanity)

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St. Augustine described the "Book of Nature" as one of two divine "books" from which humans can know God, the other being Scripture.

“Some people, in order to discover God, read books. But there is a great book: the very appearance of created things. Look above you! Look below you! Note it, Read it. God, whom you want to discover never wrote that book with ink. Instead He set before your eyes the things that He had made. Can you ask for a louder voice than that? Why, heaven and earth shout to you: ‘God made me!’”

Theological Background-Augustine 354-430

Caravaggio (c.1600)

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Theological Background-St. Francis 1181-1226

Known for his deep commitment to God's creation and the poor.

The annual interfaith celebration of the “Season of Creation” ends on the October 4, the date on which St. Francis is celebrated by the Church.

St. Francis believed that excluding any creature from compassion could lead to similar treatment of fellow humans. He saw all creatures as part of a single, universal family under God. Calling animals "brothers" and "sisters" wasn’t only poetic metaphor but expressed deep spiritual conviction in the interconnectedness of all living things.

Harmony over domination: Francis rejected the idea of human domination over nature. He advocated for a relationship of harmony and mutual respect, recognizing that "true progress lies not in dominating nature but in living harmoniously with it".

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Theological Background-St. Francis (2)

Integral ecology: St. Francis’ life and spirituality demonstrates that care for nature, justice for the poor, and social well-being are all profoundly linked. The modern term “integral ecology” refers to understanding this connection between environmental and social crises. The idea is inspired by Francis.

Simple and sustainable living: A key part of Francis's ecological worldview was his life of radical poverty and simplicity. He modeled a non-consumerist lifestyle with minimal environmental impact, seeing it as a way to honor God's creation and stand in solidarity with the poor.

His actions and beliefs, though centuries old, continue to serve as an inspiration for modern environmentalism and a model for cultivating a deeper, more respectful relationship with the natural world.

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Jeff on Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI

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Benedict XVI

Urged the Church to “bring about integral and timely disarmament, food security and peace; to guarantee the protection of the environment…” (2009)

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Shared Vision: Patriarch Bartholomew

Quoted by Pope Francis in Laudato Si’: “to commit a crime against the natural world is a sin against ourselves and a sin against God.”

(Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople)

Pope Francis quotes from Patriarch Bartholomew of the Eastern Orthodox Churches in Laudato Si’

Patriarch Bartholomew has spoken in particular of the need for each of us to repent of the ways we have harmed the planet, for “inasmuch as we all generate small ecological damage”, we are called to acknowledge “our contribution, smaller or greater, to the disfigurement and destruction of creation.”

He has repeatedly stated this firmly and persuasively, challenging us to acknowledge our sins against creation: “For human beings… to destroy the biological diversity of God’s creation; for human beings to degrade the integrity of the earth by causing changes in its climate, by stripping the earth of its natural forests or destroying its wetlands; for human beings to contaminate the earth’s waters, its land, its air, and its life – these are sins.”

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Pope Francis

First Pope from the Americas, first Jesuit Pope
Strong advocate for social justice in all forms, based on Scripture and centuries of Judeo-Christian and Catholic thought and teaching

Migration
Economic inequality
Environment and Climate

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Laudato Si’ (2015)� “ “Praised be”my Lord God with all creatures and especially our brother the sun…”

“Probably the most important document yet of this millennium.” (Bill McKibben 2015)

Papal encyclical: a formal letter written by the Pope to provide guidance and teaching on matters of faith and morals. In this case the letter is addressed to all the world’s people

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Laudate Deum (“Praise God”)�Pope Francis (2023)

“Eight years have passed since I published the encyclical Laudato Si.”

“With the passage of time I have realized that our responses have not been adequate, while the world in which we live is collapsing and may be nearing the breaking point.”

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Leo XIV

"Care for creation is truly a vocation for every human being. We are creatures among creatures, entrusted with the responsibility to care for all that the Creator has made.“ (Homily Sept 5 2025)

Bishop Prevost in his ministry in Peru, prior

to being elected as Pope Leo XIV

He highlighted that every creature has a significant role in God's plan, and each is "good," emphasizing the interconnectedness of all life. The Borgo Laudato Si' project embodies this vision, serving as a "living laboratory" where spirituality, daily life, and technology harmoniously coexist. Key Features of Borgo Laudato Si’ (“Village of Laudato Si’” in English:

Educational Initiatives: Borgo Laudato Si’ offers programs in organic farming, renewable energy, and sustainable agriculture, targeting vulnerable groups such as refugees and individuals in recovery. AP News

Sustainable Practices: The center operates with a zero-waste policy, utilizing solar power, smart irrigation systems, and banning single-use plastics. AP News

Cultural Integration: The center promotes a circular economy, emphasizing sharing, reusing, and recycling, and fosters a culture of care for creation. Centro Laudato Si

Spiritual Engagement: Pope Leo XIV has celebrated Mass for the Care of Creation at Borgo Laudato Si’, highlighting the spiritual dimension of ecological responsibility. Vatican News

Reflecting his commitment to creation care, Pope Leo XIV celebrated the first Mass for the Care of Creation on July 9, 2025, at Castel Gandolfo. This Mass utilized a new liturgical formulary approved earlier that year, emphasizing ecological themes and aligning with the Church's broader movement to address environmental issues.

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Key Catholic Principles for Environmental Care

Stewardship: we are caretakers, not owners, of creation.
Common Good: environmental health undergirds social and economic well-being.
Preferential Option for the Poor: environmental damage impacts the poor most.
Solidarity: global cooperation is required to face ecological crises.
Subsidiarity: both local and international action needed.

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Jeff on Living out the Church’s teaching on Environmental care

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Thank you!

https://youtu.be/Z7eIwa8f64g