EarthBeat Weekly: Pope Francis' new exhortation a 'mic drop' and 'punch to the gut,' say theologians

Pope Francis' new exhortation a 'mic drop' and 'punch to the gut,' say theologians Your weekly newsletter about faith and climate change October 6, 2023   The Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development published this infographic Oct. 4, 2023, marking the release of Pope Francis' document on the climate crisis, "Laudate Deum" (Praise God). (CNS/Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development) On Wednesday, Pope Francis released his new apostolic exhortation Laudate Deum. It has been talked about as a follow-up, update or addendum to his 2015 encyclical Laudato Si'. But where the first was broadly and generally about care for our common home, the second is focused squarely on the climate crisis. At just about 7,000 words (compared to approximately 38,000 words in Laudato Si'), Laudate Deum is relatively short, but I wouldn't call it sweet. I saw theologians on Twitter/X call the new document's last line a "mic drop" and a "punch to the gut." That's where Francis explains the title, saying, " 'Praise God' is the title of this letter. For when human beings claim to take God's place, they become their own worst enemies." NCR Vatican correspondent Christopher White reported that while the pope calls for concrete individual actions in response to the climate crisis, he says that above all urgent political decisions must be made at both the national and international levels to stave off impending environmental catastrophe.  Climate journalists called the document "blistering," "harsh" and "amazing" for how it addresses climate misinformation and climate change deniers head-on, and dedicates a significant amount of space to discussing what the pope would like to see happen at this year's United Nations climate change conference, COP28, and with international cooperation in general. Read more: Pope Francis takes on climate deniers, 'irresponsible' Americans in new climate letter An event in the Vatican Gardens the day after Laudate Deum's release brought together "people of good will," including a U.S. novelist, an Indian scientist and environmental activist, a leader of "Fridays for Future" in Germany and a Nobel-prize winning physicist. Carol Glatz reported for Catholic News Service that the panel presentation took place surrounded by green lawns, rose trellises, butterflies and green parrots. Read more: 'People of goodwill' at Vatican event respond to 'Laudate Deum' You'll find continued coverage of how people are responding to Laudate Deum and if it's reinvigorating care for creation work in the church at EarthBeat in the coming weeks. Make sure you're also following @EarthBeatNCR on Instagram for video coverage you won't get on any of our other platforms. What else is new on EarthBeat: In 'Laudate Deum,' Pope Francis presents a compelling climate crisis apologia by Daniel P. Horan Laudate Deum reads like the treatises of the early Christian theologians who sought to articulately defend the fundamentals of Christian faith against cultural and religious skepticism. US faith-based climate groups say Pope Francis shows the way with 'Laudate Deum' by Karyn Bigelow, Ambrose Carroll, Avery Davis Lamb, Carol Devine, Reba Elliott, Fletcher Harper, Susan Hendershot, Dan Misleh  "The pope is showing us the way. It's up to all of us to act." 'Laudate Deum' a 'timely call' to 'choose life or death,' say Catholic ecological advocates by Gina Christian, OSV News National and international Catholic climate group leaders and two U.S. bishops respond to Pope Francis' new apostolic exhortation "Laudate Deum." Teaching fish farming in Zimbabwe produces food, income, enthusiasm by Ester Machekera An agriculture project helps postulants in a Zimbabwean community grow in all aspects of life: exercise, discipline, planning, follow-through and respect for the Earth and its gifts.  Pope's 'Laudate Deum' must elevate those on ecological peripheries by Milton Javier Bravo Laudate Deum offers another opportunity to expand our cosmic view in a way that elevates the narratives, experiences, heritages and traditions of people from the ecological peripheries.  Poll: US Catholics' views on climate show no significant 'Laudato Si'' effect years later by Kate Scanlon, OSV News Despite Pope Francis' advocacy, U.S. Catholics are no more likely than other Americans to view climate change as "a serious problem," according to new data from the Pew Research Center. What's happening in other climate news: Pope: Listen to young people who are asking us to eradicate food waste — Linda Bordoni for Vatican News Americans don't hate living near solar and wind farms as much as you might think — Allyson Chiu, Emily Guskin and Scott Clement for The Washington Post Governor Gordon Rejects Federal Funds that Would Harm Oil and Gas Industry — John Habershaw for Wyoming News Now The military is turning to microgrids to fight global threats — and global warming — Quil Lawrence for NPR The UAE holds a major oil and gas conference just ahead of hosting UN climate talks in Dubai — Jon Gambrell for the Associated Press How to build a heat-resilient city — Jake Bittle and Naveena Sadasivam for Grist and Gizmodo Final Beat: From Oct. 4-29, Pope Francis is hosting the first of two back-to-back assemblies of the Synod of Bishops to consider questions that have the potential to change the course of Catholicism. Among items on the agenda: the possibility of women serving the church in ordained ministry, how the church can better include LGBTQ Catholics and priestly celibacy.  NCR is there in strength to report on this momentous event. Follow along with reports and analysis from Vatican correspondent Christopher White, news editor Joshua McElwee, NCR senior correspondent Heidi Schlumpf and Rhina Guidos, Latin America regional correspondent for Global Sisters Report.  You can find all of NCR's coverage of the Synod on Synodality here. Thanks for reading EarthBeat! Stephanie Clary Environment Editor National Catholic Reporter sclary@ncronline.org Instagram: @stephanieclaryncr Twitter/X: @scherp01   Featured Advertisers   Recover our foremothers in faith!  Tell the whole story of Mary Magdalene’s apostolic witness on Easter Sunday!  Sign the petition today!   Advertisement