Eps 2: What The Pope Can Teach You About Wilderness
— Animali
| Host image: | StyleGAN neural net |
|---|---|
| Content creation: | GPT-3.5, |
Host
Vincent Jensen
Podcast Content
-
Pope Francis has a strong affirmation for environmental stewardship, which is evident in his papacy. He applies Church teachings to engage environmental issues and uses his papacy to set an example of how to use Pope Francis’s way to care for the environment. In his encyclical Laudato Si, Pope Francis criticizes man-made abuses, such as carbon emissions and deforestation that damage the environment. He lays out the Church’s stance on climate change and other environmental issues while criticizing new encyclicals that do not adequately address these issues. In Laudato Si, Pope Francis lays out the most detailed case yet of our failings and limitations when it comes to caring for the environment. By raising awareness of these issues in this context, Pope Francis is able to bring attention to how we can better protect our planet from further damage.
In his much anticipated encyclical letter, the pope warned of the gathering danger of global warming, poverty and overexploitation of natural resources that would cause severe disruptions to ecosystems and human societies. He stressed the moral imperative to reduce global greenhouse emissions as a way to prevent cause unabated climate change. Through this course of pastoral action, he also reminds leaders of the global community that they have an obligation to protect the environment for future generations. In his twin Earth Day messages, Pope Francis wrote: “We must be conscious that an important part of our responsibility towards creation is to ensure its protection and its wise use so that our descendants can enjoy it in its fullness”. This language speaks directly to our need to be mindful of how we use resources from the planet and how we can better protect it from further damage.
Pope Francis has taught us that the synodal process, as used by the Universal Church, is a synodal journey of closeness and compassion. This reminds us that the Holy Spirit is present in all aspects of our lives and works to inspire us with compassion and tenderness. In his encyclical, Pope Francis speaks of God’s love for humanity, emphasizing how it is expressed through God’s style of mercy, gentleness and forgiveness. He also calls on us to listen to one another in times of reflection, so we can better understand each other's needs and build solidarity. By listening carefully to our fellow travelers during this process of listening, we can help bandage wounds and discern our times according to God's will. Thus Pope Francis has taught us about the importance of listening to one another with an open heart in order to foster true solidarity among different communities.
The Pope’s message has been clear: the universal church must be more than just a source of priestly ministry; it must also serve as a beacon of hope in the wilderness, highlighting common concerns and bringing new unity to our broken world. It is essential that we accept our shared responsibility for God’s creation and recognize that partial visions are no substitute for a spirit-filled approach to changing roles. To do this, we need ever new breath and hope. The future generations of the church will be strengthened by Pope Francis’ example – an example that spreads joy rather than self absorption.
Pope Paul VI, the humble successor to Vatican II, was an example of protecting the wilderness. He believed that new popes should honor their predecessors and in his homily honoring St. Peter, he cited new popes such as Pope John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis for their work towards todays Church. Pope Paul VI also said that each pope must have at its heart a deep sense of virtue and must become a sign of unity. This was something taken to heart by both John Paul II and Benedict XVI during their papacies. As a continuation of this legacy, Pope Francis has also focused on protecting the environment and has been an advocate for environmental stewardship.
The Catholic Church, led by the Pope, is the largest Christian denomination in the world and has a long history of service to God and its people. The church's teachings are based on divine origin and are passed down from bishops through apostolic succession. Pope Paul VI was the first pope to recognize the importance of wilderness in his encyclical “Man in the Wilderness” which he wrote as part of his ministry for the Catholic Church. He stressed that faithfulness to Peter’s mission was essential for rendering service to God and mankind. He further emphasized that following objective rules set forth by Rome under its fundamental constitution would protect both people and nature from exploitation. In this way, Pope Paul VI sought to instill respect for wildlife and wilderness within his followers.
His encyclical Centesimus Annus promotes rightly ordered flourishing and encourages all of God’s creation to be respected. Pope John Paul II also took up this cause, declaring that nature is a gift from God which we need to protect. In his traditional assertion of the supremacy of Christ, he emphasized that everything on earth—including the environment—is part of a greater, divinely ordained whole. By promoting these teachings among Catholics, Pope John Paul II and Pope Paul VI sought to instill in their followers an appreciation for the wilderness around them and a commitment to protecting it.
Pope Benedict XVI echoed the same teachings, stressing the importance of "prudence and holiness" in our relationship with the earth. Similarly, Pope Francis has called for a more tangible and loving relationship with nature, emphasizing that we must be mindful of our actions in order to protect God's creation. The demands of the Roman Pontiff are clear: we must take care of the wilderness around us.