Laudate Deum: Apostolic Exhortation of Pope Francis

LAUDATE DEUM (Praise God) because “a human being who pretends to take the place of God becomes the worst danger to himself".

Eight years after the publication of Laudato si’, the reactions and the steps taken have proved to be largely insufficient. Global cooperation is essential to address the climate crisis!

Pope Francis appeals to all people of good will to react, and recalls the responsibility of all to care for God’s creation.

The Holy See published this October 4, the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, Pope Francis’ new Apostolic Exhortation Laudate Deum on the climate crisis.

The Holy Father addresses the situation of climate change in Laudate Deum (“Praise God”) because “a human being who pretends to take the place of God becomes the worst danger to himself” (LD 73) after the Encyclical Letter Laudato si’ promulgated on the Solemnity of Pentecost 2015.

Laudate Deum – the Pope’s cry for a response to the climate crisis

The Apostolic Exhortation Laudate Deum, addressed to all people of goodwill, is composed of six Chapters:

• In the first, “The Global Climate Crisis,” Pope Francis warns that climate change is undeniable, and its effects are becoming increasingly evident “despite some attempts to minimize or ridicule them” (LD 6). He further regrets that the main cause of this problem is human activity and adds that, while we cannot correct such damage, we can still take steps to prevent even more serious damage in the future.

• In the second Chapter, the Holy Father addresses the “technocratic paradigm” and stresses that nature is not a resource to be exploited without end and urges us to recognize that unbridled ambition is not ethically sustainable (LD 28).

• In the third Chapter, Francis refers to “the weakness of international politics” and stresses the urgent need for global cooperation through new multilateral agreements between States because current and past approaches are insufficient (LD 43).

• In the fourth Chapter, the Pope reflects on “climate conferences: progress and failures” and encourages to overcome the selfish positions of countries for the benefit of the global common good (LD 44, 52) and in the fifth Chapter to reflect on “what is expected from COP28 in Dubai?” if we do not want to doom humanity.

• In the last chapter, “Spiritual Motivations,” the Holy Father calls upon people of all religious confessions to respond. He also reminds Catholics that in the light of faith there is a responsibility to care for God’s creation and that this implies respect for the laws of nature and recognition of the beauty and richness of God’s creation.

• Finally, Pope Francis invites us to walk in communion, together, synodically, and to commit ourselves to “reconciliation with the world that shelters us” (LD 69).