Sixth anniversary of Pope Francis’ encyclical on care for our common home

Today, 24 May 2021, Christians have a reason to give thanks to God. Every day we have reason to be thankful. As Marists of Champagnat we also want to give thanks for our world, for our common home.

Many initiatives are being developed to foster this special care for our world. Here too, the words of Brother Ernesto, Superior General, can be applied when he invites us to “care for life” and to “generate new life”.

From the Vatican, at the suggestion of Pope Francis, and through the Dicastery for the service of Integral Human Development, we are invited to turn our gaze towards our world, towards our brothers and sisters. They invite us to join the project called “Laudato Si Platform for Action“, as a congregation, as communities and families, as educational centres and organisations, as individuals and as groups.

A project to be developed in 7 years, which includes the 7 objectives of Laudato Si. A project that leads us to a public commitment, with an evaluation of the achievements, that walks together with other groups and people, that gives concrete answers to the “cry of the Earth” and to the “cry of the poor” (objectives 1 and 2).

The last General Chapter also guides us in this same line, to “respond boldly to emerging needs (call 5)”, committing ourselves to “care for our common home”, and abandoning “the culture of egos” and promoting “echoes”, which “reduce the scandal of indifference and inequalities”.

Yes, we have reason to thank God, because we are already on this line, because we continue to work on these challenges.

Yes, with small daily actions, individually and as an Institute, we can make real – and we are already doing so – the call to “be the face and hands of your tender mercy”, thus responding to the cry of the Earth and the cry of the poor.

Yes, even the smallest of actions helps the whole beauty of creation to “blossom”.

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Br. Ángel Diego – Director of the Secretariat of Solidarity