Pope Francis and Ecological Synodality

For those who follow Vatican media, it is impossible not to notice the omnipresence of ecology as a theme.

In particular, the Vatican, which works closely with the Patriarchate of Constantinople and the Anglican Communion, has recently been focused on the preparation of the Cop26 meeting in Glasgow, from October 31 to November 12.

It is a United Nations initiative, where 190 world leaders will meet tens of thousands of negotiators - the official website says - to draw up a plan against climate change.

The goal will be to establish measures to reduce the increase in global temperature by 2030, an increase seen as the result of human activity, with radical changes in plans and energy consumption.

The Holy See is particularly committed, with its ecumenical partners, to ensure that this world meeting works as well as possible and to do its part so that ecological commitment is perceived as a true spiritual duty, according to the prescriptions of the encyclical Laudato Si’.

On October 7, Pope Francis was at the Lateran University, supported by Bartholomew of Constantinople and UNESCO director Audrey Azoulay, to inaugurate the new cycle of studies in ecology and environment.

There he delivered a speech calling for concrete and urgent action stemming from an “effort to form ecological consciousness and develop research to protect the common home.”

Laudato Si' reminds us of this: Christ has united to his Person a part of the material universe, as the germ of a total transformation of the Cosmos.

The afternoon of the same day, the Pope was at the Colosseum to pray with all the religious leaders of the world in favor of the “common home,” the earth, promoting fraternity within the meaning of the encyclical Fratelli Tutti, as a condition to work together for the well-being of the Earth.

It now appears that the two religious leaders, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople and Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury are finding a way to renew their authority in Rome.

In his Lateran speech, the Pope praised the Patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew, inspirer of Laudato Si'.