Christ the Cornerstone

Care for creation is a core element of Catholic social teaching

The Church is not only committed to protecting the environment, but above all we seek to protect humankind from self-destruction. By respecting and caring for all things, we grow in our ability to respect and care for God’s gift of creation!

In “Peace and Unity: A Pastoral Reflection,” published on Aug. 28, I offer the following observations:

Pope Leo XIV has warned of the dangers associated with artificial intelligence (AI), especially regarding fake news, deception, manipulation, and other unethical intentions. How much might this contribute to the inability to authentically comprehend, consider and discuss matters in a basic human way?

How might this impact our understanding of the issues related to effective care for creation, protection of the unborn and women, combating racism, eradicating causes of poverty, properly addressing the plight of migrants and refugees, upholding the dignity of marriage and family, and embracing the sacredness of all life? Polarization is an evil that must be overcome, if we are to realize true peace and unity as fellow human beings sharing the same home, namely, planet Earth.

All of these social issues are interrelated. Care for God’s creation, for example, is a core element of Catholic social teaching that includes respect for the dignity of all persons and our concern for the poor and vulnerable. The late Pope Francis frequently reminded us that there is an essential link between stewardship of the environment and our care for our fellow human beings—especially the poor and the vulnerable.

“Peace and Unity: A Pastoral Reflection” points out that “Care for Creation demands that we rise above self-centeredness and reject any semblance of a ‘throw away’ culture. We must strive to embrace the environment and all creatures with a deep sense of appreciation, awe, respect and wonder.”

All life is sacred, as Pope Francis stated in his 2015 encyclical “Laudato Si’: On Care for Our Common Home”: “Because all creatures are connected, each must be cherished with love and respect, for all of us as living creatures are dependent on one another” (#42). It should not be lost on any person of Jewish or Christian faith that the Torah and the Bible both begin with the story of creation, making clear how God entrusted humanity with the privilege and responsibility of its care.

Seven key principles of Catholic social teaching are intertwined throughout Laudato Si’. These include life and dignity of the human person; call to family, community, and participation; rights and responsibilities; the option for the poor and vulnerable; the dignity of work and the rights of workers; solidarity; and care for God’s creation. From the perspective of justice, not one of these principles is optional. This makes “care for creation” a life issue, an essential feature of our efforts to reverence and defend all human life.

In the opening sentences of Laudato Si’, Pope Francis writes that God’s creation is not an object to be manipulated by us. It is like a sister, our “Mother Earth,” to be treated with reverence, respect and loving care.

Care for God’s creation is not simply a political, economic or even scientific cause. It is a profoundly spiritual concern that is deeply rooted in the way we see ourselves and our world in relationship to our Creator. In “The Canticle of the Sun,” a hymn of praise whose final verse concerning Sister Death was composed by St. Francis of Assisi on his deathbed in 1226, we recognize everything as united in God’s family. Unless we appreciate the truth and the importance of care for God’s creation as an expression of authentic Christian ecology, we cannot grasp the full importance of Catholic social teaching.

Authentic care for God’s creation addresses the “inseparable bond” between respect for the environment and the love of humanity which alone makes justice and peace possible. We cannot be authentically eco-friendly unless we are also unselfish, loving and fair in our treatment of our fellow human beings—especially those who are most vulnerable, the poor, the sick and the unborn.

During his summer recess in Castel Gandolfo, Pope Leo XIV inaugurated a new Mass for the Care for Creation. And in his recent message for the 10th World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation 2025, the Holy Father said: “In a world where the most vulnerable of our brothers and sisters are the first to suffer the devastating effects of climate change, deforestation and pollution, care for creation becomes an expression of our faith and humanity.”

Let’s pray for the grace to care for all God’s creation. May God grant us the courage to defend human life and dignity by caring for our common home!
 

(To read Archbishop Thompson’s pastoral reflection in English and Spanish, go to archindy.org/pastoral2025. Study questions are available at facebook.com/ArchdioceseofIndianapolis.) †