Ten years ago, Pope Francis challenged us to hear both the “cry of the earth and the cry of the poor” as his groundbreaking encyclical letter Laudato Si’ offered a hopeful vision that called us to care for “our common home” and reminded us that “everything is connected.” Decades earlier, Rev. Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, S.J., a French Jesuit priest and scientist, challenged us to see the interconnectedness of all life. This dialogue explored this call to make connections, drawing on the teachings of Pope Francis and the life and writings of Teilhard de Chardin, depicted in the film Teilhard: Visionary Scientist.
Four respected leaders with differing experiences and expertise examined how Catholic social teaching themes found in both Laudato Si’ and Teilhard de Chardin’s work offer a moral framework for addressing the ecological crises of our time and fostering a deeper sense of solidarity with all of creation. The dialogue explored how Catholic social teaching can inspire transformative action to care for all of God’s creation.
Kim Daniels, director of the Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life and member of the Vatican Dicastery for Communication, moderated the dialogue.
This gathering was co-sponsored by Georgetown's Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs.
Resources
View articles, documents, videos, and other resources for this dialogue.
