Foundations of Catholic Environmental Stewardship
In a world where environmental challenges grow ever more urgent, Catholics are called to reflect on their unique responsibility to care for creation. The Catholic Church’s teachings on environmental stewardship are deeply rooted in Scripture, tradition, and a profound understanding of our role as caretakers of God’s creation. At the heart of this is Pope Francis’ encyclical, Laudato Si’, a document that invites Catholics to undergo a deep ecological metanoia—a transformative conversion of heart—and calls for a renewed commitment to the care of our common home, Earth.
Understanding Stewardship in the Catholic Tradition
Environmental stewardship is not a new concept for Catholics—it is woven into the very fabric of our faith, even though it’s not often preached from the ambo. From the opening chapters of Genesis, the Bible reveals humanity’s relationship with creation:
“The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to till it and keep it.”— Genesis 2:15
This verse forms the foundation of Catholic environmental ethics. The word “till” suggests work, development, and care, while “keep” implies protection and preservation. As stewards of creation, we are entrusted with both the development and the preservation of the Earth.
The Message of Laudato Si’: An Ecological Conversion
Published in 2015, Laudato Si’ is a seminal work in Catholic social teaching on the environment. Pope Francis frames the care of the Earth as a moral and spiritual issue, calling for an “ecological conversion”—a transformation of the heart that compels us to recognize our interconnectedness with all creation.
In the opening lines of Laudato Si’, Pope Francis draws inspiration from St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of ecology, referring to the Earth as “our common home.” He emphasizes that the environmental crisis is not just a scientific or political issue, but a spiritual crisis that stems from humanity’s disregard for the sacredness of creation.
Pope Francis writes:
“This sister [the Earth] now cries out to us because of the harm we have inflicted on her by our irresponsible use and abuse of the goods with which God has endowed her.”— Laudato Si’, 2
This “cry of the Earth” is a call to action for Catholics, urging us to reevaluate our relationship with the natural world and to take responsibility for its care. Now is the time to deeply love the sister [the Earth] and sink into the taproot of our hearts, as mystic Jim Finley would say.
Core Themes from Laudato Si’:
Integral Ecology: One of the central messages of Laudato Si’ is integral ecology, which recognizes that everything is interconnected—humans, animals, plants, and the natural environment. Our spiritual well-being is intimately tied to the health of the planet. We cannot address environmental issues without addressing poverty, inequality, and justice.
The Moral Obligation to Act: Pope Francis makes it clear that caring for creation is not optional. It is a moral obligation. He calls on Christians to take concrete steps to mitigate environmental harm, reduce waste, and live more simply. This call to action is rooted in our responsibility as stewards of God’s creation.
Care for the Poor and Vulnerable: Environmental degradation disproportionately affects the poor and vulnerable. In Laudato Si’, Pope Francis highlights the need for environmental justice, ensuring that the most vulnerable are not further marginalized by environmental destruction.
Creation Care: A Spiritual Practice
For Catholics, environmental stewardship is not just about conserving resources or protecting wildlife—it’s a spiritual practice, a way of seeing the world through the eyes of Christ. Everything is sacred—from the massive blue whale to the tiniest tardigrade, even those annoying wasps. They all play a role in God's creation. Caring for the Earth reflects a deep reverence for the Creator. Caring for creation is a prayer, an act of giving glory to God. When we care for creation, we honor God’s handiwork and fulfill our responsibility as co-creators in the ongoing process of nurturing life—till and keep.
St. John Paul II emphasized this in his 1990 World Day of Peace message, where he spoke about ecological responsibility:
“The ecological crisis is a moral issue... a genuine conversion in ways of thought and behavior is needed to bring about a change in course.”— St. John Paul II
This conversion of heart (metanoia) begins with small, daily actions: reducing waste, using less water while we brush our teeth, planting trees, recycling and advocating for policies that truly protect the environment, not just greenwash. Each of these actions are tangible expression of our faith.
What Can Catholics Do?
As stewards of creation, each of us is called to contribute to the care of our common home. Here are a few practical steps Catholics can take to integrate environmental stewardship into their spiritual practice:
Prayer and Reflection: Begin with a prayerful reflection on creation. Spend time in nature, meditate on Scripture, and reflect on how God calls us to care for the Earth. Listen to how the birds and crickets pray with their beautiful songs and chirps on a morning walk. They give glory to God in their own way, just by being themselves. It’s intuitive to animals to be in the present moment, but for some reason, it’s not as intuitive for us.
Simplicity of Life: Reduce consumption and waste. Reject the religion of Consumerism and decrease the overall demand for “stuff” as a way of respecting God’s creation and doing your part to ensure that future generations inherit a livable planet.
Advocate for Environmental Justice: Get involved in local, national, and global initiatives that promote environmental justice, especially those addressing the needs of the poor and vulnerable.
Educate and Raise Awareness: Share the teachings of Laudato Si’ with your family, friends, and community. Help others see that caring for creation is a fundamental part of living out the Catholic faith.
A Call to Action
As Catholics, we are called to be the protectors of God’s creation. This responsibility is not just for scientists, indigenous people or policymakers—it is for all of us. Laudato Si’ reminds us that caring for the environment is deeply rooted in our faith and that each of us has a role to play in protecting our common home. By embracing ecological conversion, we not only heal the Earth but also deepen our relationship with God and with each other.
At Laudato Terra, we are committed to exploring and living out the teachings of Laudato Si’. Join us as we journey together in faith, striving to be faithful stewards of the Earth and protectors of creation.
Feel inspired to learn more about how faith and environmentalism intersect? Subscribe to Laudato Terra for weekly reflections, practical tips, and resources to help you integrate creation care into your daily spiritual practice.
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