Pope Francis’s landmark encyclical on the environment was released five years ago, and the global pandemic has made its message of creation care, social solidarity and spiritual awakening more urgent than ever.
“Human-induced climate change is a scientific reality, and its decisive mitigation is a moral and religious imperative for humanity,” Pope Francis has said. The Guardian adds: “No other spiritual leader is speaking out so clearly for the poor and for the environment in the developing world.”
But has the Catholic Church embraced the encyclical’s message? Are U.S. Catholics less likely than others to welcome this teaching? Has the pandemic changed the dynamic on environmental awareness — inside and outside the Catholic Church? How did the recent Synod on the Amazon change our perceptions of the region’s needs, and its people?
Above all: Is it too late to take action? Is there still time?
These are some of the questions our trio of distinguished panelists will answer in this wide-ranging discussion.
Panelists:
Fr. Augusto Zampini-Davies is a senior Vatican official dealing with justice and peace issues like the environment. He also head’s the pope’s COVID-19 task force.
Dr. Leo Guardado is a professor of systematic theology at Fordham and a Salvadoran-born refugee to the U.S. He focuses on issues of migration, peace, and justice.
David Gibson, director of Fordham’s Center on Religion and Culture, will moderate the discussion, which will include questions from the online audience.
