The complete text of Laudato Si’, the landmark encyclical letter from Pope Francis that, as Time magazine reported, “rocked the international community” In the Encyclical on Climate Change and Inequality, the beloved Pope exhorts the world to combat environmental degradation and its impact on the poor. In a stirring, clarion call that is not merely aimed at Catholic readers but rather at a wide, lay audience, the Pope cites the overwhelming scientific evidence of climate change, and does not hesitate to detail how it is the result of a historic level of unequal distribution of wealth. It is, in short, as the New York Times labeled it, “An urgent call to action . . . intended to persuade followers around the world to change their behavior, in hopes of protecting a fragile planet.” With an insightful and informative introduction by Harvard professor Naomi Oreskes, famed for her bestselling Merchants of Doubt: How a Handful of Scientists Obscured the Truth on Issues from Tobacco Smoke to Global Warming.
Pope Francis
Pope Francis, born Jorge Bergoglio in 1936, is known for his accessible religious writing that combines spiritual guidance with contemporary issues. His major works include the encyclicals "Laudato si'" on environmental care, "Fratelli tutti" on social friendship, and "Lumen fidei" on faith. As Archbishop and Pope, he's authored numerous books and interviews, using simple language to discuss complex theological concepts, social justice, and interfaith dialogue.