USCCB Marks 10th Anniversary of Pope Francis' Laudato Si' Encyclical
By: The Good Newsroom
In a joint letter, Archbishop Borys Gudziak and Bishop A. Elias Zaidan wrote to young people, “You have the capacity to organize and create change that will endure for generations to come”
WASHINGTON – As the Catholic Church celebrates the 10th anniversary of the publication of Pope Francis’ encyclical, Laudato Si’, Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), offered the following statement:
“Over the last decade, Laudato Si’ has inspired the Catholic Church and the world to draw closer in our relationship with Almighty God, the Creator of all life, and to care more deeply for our common home. The ever-urgent message of the late Pope Francis asks us, ‘What kind of world do we want to leave to those who come after us, to children who are now growing up?’ (Laudato Si’, no. 160). The USCCB remains committed to advocacy that cares for the most vulnerable and creation, seeking a ‘sustainable and integral development’ that benefits the entire human family (Laudato Si’, no. 13). As we remember the legacy of Pope Francis and heed the call of Pope Francis for peace and unity in our world, I invite the faithful to join in prayer and action during this 10th anniversary year.
“Two of my brother bishops who serve as chairmen of the Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development and Committee on International Justice and Peace, will mark this occasion with a special letter to young people celebrating their strong witness as stewards of God’s creation.”
In that joint letter, Archbishop Borys Gudziak and Bishop A. Elias Zaidan wrote “You have the capacity to organize and create change that will endure for generations to come.”
The bishops recognize in the letter the impact the climate crisis has on young people and applaud their strong witness for a better future. “Young people can lead the way as catalysts of hope… We are with you, standing in the tension between God’s vision for his beloved creation and our current reality.”
Archbishop Gudziak is chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development. Bishop Zaidan is chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on International Justice and Peace.
More information on the USCCB’s environmental work can be found here.