Pope Francis’ revolutionary new encyclical calls for a “broad cultural revolution” to confront the environmental crisis. “Laudato Si” is also quite lengthy.

Pope Francis wants it clear that his first encyclical is to be appreciated as an addition to the church’s 124 year tradition of Catholic Social Teaching. How do we know? He tells us so right there at the beginning in number 15: “It is my hope that this Encyclical Letter, which is now added to the body of the Church’s social teaching, can help us to acknowledge the appeal, immensity and urgency of the challenge we face.”

Perhaps it is no accident that, after opening his encyclical letter "Laudato Si’" with a quote from St. Francis of Assisi’s famous Canticle of the Creatures, Pope Francis cites Pope St. John XXIII’s encyclical "Pacem in Terris" (1963) as the model for his audien

In many ways, Pope Francis’ long-awaited "Laudato Si'" continues and develops the tradition that St. John Paul II and Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI established, yet in significant ways it also marks a bold and fresh direction for Catholic social teaching on ecology. On the one hand,

"Laudato Si’" brings a new spiritual depth to the tradition of papal social encyclicals. Extensive quotes from Christian mystical writers such as Therese of Liseux, John of the Cross and St. Bonaventure, and even the Sufi ‘Ali al-Khawas make clear something new is in play

In the lead-up to the encyclical a number of friends, colleagues, and pundits have wondered what place teaching on gender and sexuality would occupy in Pope Francis’ treatment of faith and ecology. If the question seems a strange one it is not without warrant. Building on John Paul II’s

In addition to the use of gender-inclusive language, a first in official Catholic social encyclicals, one of the most amazing aspects of “Laudato Si’” are the footnotes. To be honest it was one of the very first things I looked at. Francis departs from the tradition of Catholic soc

The long wait is over The greatly anticipated encyclical letter of Pope Francis that has been the topic for much discussion and speculation for well over a year has now been published The encyclical on the environment is now available for the entire world to see read ponder mdash and most importa

Addressing ldquo every person on the planet rdquo in his groundbreaking encyclical released today Pope Francis speaks frankly and with passion about the ldquo global environmental deterioration rdquo of ldquo our common home rdquo and urgently appeals ldquo for a new dialogue about how we ar

Michael F McLean Ph D President of Thomas Aquinas College in Santa Paula CA recently delivered a talk to Catholic professionals and those in business arguing for the value of a Catholic liberal arts education Dr McLean hit familiar notes -- the Catholic liberal arts develop character deepen

Appealing to the entire world, Pope Francis urged everyone to read his upcoming encyclical on the care of creation and to better protect a damaged earth."This common 'home' is being ruined and that harms everyone, especially the poorest," he said June 17, the day before the Vatican

"We talk about the sacred and the secular and everything in between."

A humanitarian crisis is looming in the Dominican Republic where thousands face statelessness and deportation because of the impending enforcement of a 2013 court decision to revoke the citizenship for many Dominican-born descendants of undocumented migrants.

June 17, 2015Santa MartaPope Francis said Mass in the chapel of the Casa Santa Marta on Tuesday morning. Following the readings of the day, the Holy Father reflected on the place of poverty in the Gospel, saying that the Gospel becomes incomprehensible if poverty is removed from it, and that it is u

A must-win state for any GOP candidate considered a “moderate” in 2016

A call to action for World Refugee Day

Focusing on poverty and sacrificing for the poor are the heart of the Gospel, not signs of communism, Pope Francis said at his morning Mass.Furthermore, if Christians don't dig deep and generously open up their wallets, they do not have "genuine faith," the pope said June 16 during the

The publication of a leaked draft though not final text of Pope Francis rsquo much awaited encyclical on ecology by the Italian weekly L rsquo Espresso with an introduction by Sandro Magister mdash its long-time columnist on Vatican affairs mdash has sparked uproar and strong reactions not only

Although a new Pew Research Center study shows that Pope Francis remains just as popular as ever among Catholics across demographic and political lines (86 percent view him favorably), its recent polling suggests his hotly anticipated encyclical on the environment may only impress about half his U.S

This Thursday theologians in the New York area will gather at America House to discuss Pope Francis rsquo encyclical on the environment These experts in Catholic social teaching will offer an overview of the content and significance of the teachings within the text They will also offer background