On Thursday June 18, Pope Francis released the long-anticipated papal encyclical on the environment. In this profound pastoral statement, Pope Francis affirmed all creatures as beloved by God, the interconnection of environmental, economic and social systems, and our human responsibility to care for the world around us. Presbyterian General Assemblies have passed many environmental resolutions on caring for God’s creation, acting on everything from water and land use to energy and climate change, while congregations, church institutions, and individual Presbyterians are committed to earth care as part of daily discipleship. PC(USA) Stated Clerk Gradye Parsons said in response to the papal encyclical, “We celebrate the faithful witness and words of Pope Francis today as he encourages responsible, loving care for God’s creation in the release of his papal encyclical Laudato Si’. We affirm its echo of the great St. Francis’ reverence for nature. At the same time, we join the Pope in the urgency of truth-telling: we humans are largely responsible for global warming and we have to find ways to reverse track. The Pope is calling us all to environmental conversion: may we together find the immense moral and spiritual energy that the world powers have been lacking so far.”
September 2015 one Presbyterian’s personal reflection on the papal visit
September 2015 schedule of Pope Francis’ visit to the United States
21 quotes from papal encyclical by ecowatch
NEW! Sign a petition on Green Climate Fund, related to Pope Francis’ message
Download a study guide on the encyclical from Presbyterian Peace Fellowship!
Read full PC(USA) statement on the papal encyclical.
Sign a petition in support of the encyclical, created by Catholic Climate Covenant.
Make some noise for creation, in support of the encyclical.
Click here to find multiple news and other articles related to the papal encyclical.
Read reflection by seminary professor William Greenway.
Read about creation care ministry in congregations.
Learn ways to take action on climate.