“Praise Be” and the gift of creation
Like many of you, I have been looking forward to Pope Francis’ new encyclical letter on the care of creation.
Last night as I was thinking about this column, I finally received my copy of Laudato Si’ (“Praised Be”), which takes its title from St. Francis of Assisi’s great hymn to the earth as our common home.
Laudato Si’ is a long document — more than 100 pages — and I have just had time to read it once. So I can only offer here my first impressions.
Most of the focus in the mainstream media has been on the pope’s “position” on issues that are controversial in our politics.