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The U.S. bishops have discussed ways to further incorporate "Laudato Si’," Pope Francis' 2015 encyclical on the care of creation, into church life at both local and national levels. This was a key topic during their fall general assembly on November 13 in Baltimore. Among the suggestions was a return to the traditional practice of abstaining from meat on Fridays.
Archbishop Borys Gudziak, chair of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, along with Bishop A. Elias Zaidan, chair of the conference’s Committee on International Justice and Peace, addressed the upcoming 10th anniversary of Pope Francis’ encyclical, set for May 2025.
The bishops engaged in discussions about how their dioceses and the USCCB can commemorate this anniversary and encourage Catholics to care for "our common home."
"News is filled with wars, political polarization and violence, threats to life and inequality just to name a few," stated Archbishop Gudziak. "It can be tempting to let care for creation become less prominent. The response I believe is found in ‘Laudato Si’ itself: ‘Everything is connected.'"
He proposed that "Laudato Si’" could be integrated into evangelization efforts by using it as a framework for integral ecology through Pope Francis' vision expressed in his encyclicals.
Archbishop Gudziak emphasized that caring for creation aligns with the Mission Directive adopted by the bishops that morning, which focuses on evangelizing young people. He noted that young people are particularly drawn to environmental issues due to their importance for future generations.
Two practical suggestions were presented by Archbishop Gudziak: using the Sabbath as a day dedicated to caring for creation through activities like pilgrimages or special Masses; and restoring Friday abstinence from meat as a traditional practice benefiting both spiritual life and environmental health.
He added that fasting could also serve as an opportunity for synodal engagement by exploring ancient practices within various Christian traditions.
Bishop Zaidan highlighted existing initiatives at organizations such as The Catholic University of America, Catholic Charities USA, and Catholic Relief Services. He stressed that care for creation must be embedded locally within each community's reality.
He also pointed out ongoing advocacy by the USCCB for bipartisan climate policies addressing sustainable agriculture, ecosystem protection, pollution regulation, among other issues.
"As we mark the anniversary of Laudato Si’, we must keep the crying of the earth and the crying of the poor at the center," said Bishop Zaidan.
Gretchen R. Crowe serves as editor-in-chief for OSV News. Follow her updates on X (formerly known as Twitter) @GretchenOSV.
