35th General Congregation, 2008
This Congregation has reviewed its mission expressed in 1975, defining it as Reconciliation with God, Reconciliation with one another and, finally, Reconciliation with creation. In number 33, we read: “The way energy sources and other natural resources are accessed and exploited is rapidly increasing the damage to soil, air, water and the entire environment, to the point of being a threat to the future of the world.” planet. “Unsafe water, polluted air, massive deforestation, atomic waste and toxic waste are causing death and untold suffering, particularly to the poor.”
Analysis
For Jesuits, a firm commitment to our “common home” implies a desire for sociopolitical commitment, in contrast to the vision that Franciscans usually have, which is one of contemplation of the beauties of nature. Pope Francis, also a Jesuit, wrote his encyclical Laudato si’which is addressed to people of good will, rather than to Catholics, as is usual. It is a call for “integral ecology”, understood as an authentic social approach that encompasses the loss of biodiversity, climate change, the global economy that marginalizes billions of people, and population growth, which is not a problem in itself, but rather the problem of unequal distribution of resources. Francis also lucidly affirms that it is the countries of the North that have a debt with the countries of the South. It is not surprising that the current Pope has shaken the pillars of the temple of dominant neoliberalism. He has made enemies among right-wing intellectuals, especially in some parts of the world. Inspired by Ignatian spirituality, Francis stated with great forcefulness in his speech to the last COP: “I am with you to pose the question to which we are now called to answer: are we working for a culture of life or for a culture of death? I urge you: let us choose life, let us choose the future!”
