The oil spill off the coast of Mauritius has renewed attention as to how environmental disasters affect ecological and economic life.

The text seeks “to relaunch the rich contents” of an encyclical still relevant today and even more so in the light of a world hit by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Pope Francis: “The protection of the environment and respect for the biodiversity of the planet are issues that affect us all. We cannot pretend to be healthy in a world that is sick.”

Organizations such as Catholic Relief Services face complications in helping the communities because of the ongoing pandemic restrictions set by local governments.

In “Laudato Si’,” Pope Francis called drinkable water a human right. But as Nathan Beacom writes, our methods of farming and raising livestock are degrading our soil and polluting our waterways.

Bishops' conferences from Brazil, Indonesia and Ireland are announcing their intent to divest from fossil fuel companies, in keeping with the spirit of Pope Francis' Laudato Si' encyclical, which was released five years ago.