A Call from Pope Francis and St. Francis

ARTICLE WITH QUESTIONS

Challenging Our Culture of Waste: A Call from Pope Francis and St. Francis

Throughout his papacy, Benedict XVI recalled that God gave us the task of cultivating and caring for His creation. Benedict wrote of “the rhythm of the love story of God and man” and saw the need for humans to grasp the logic and rhythm of creation.

In his World Environment Day address, Pope Francis blamed our culture of waste for our inability to read this rhythm and care for creation. People consume and dispose of materials senselessly. This consumerism leads to disre- spect not only of the earth’s resources, but of its people.

In line with the World Environment Day theme of food scarcity, Pope Francis drew several parallels between throwing food away and throwing human life away. He suggested that our culture of consumption leads both to our reckless disposal of land, resources, and food, and to “In an age of overconsumption of our neglect of our brothers and sisters. He also denounced our culture for being obsessed with money, saying “Man is scarce Earth resources, not in charge today; money is in charge, money rules.” About 800 years ago, St. Francis of Assisi struggled with a of forced extinction of species of similar problem. He grew up in Italy at a time when money was gaining undue influence over society. St. Francis had wildlife, of dominance of humans to act radically to counter this trend and turn people’s eyes over other members of the biotic toward the suffering of their brothers and sisters. Although Francis did many radical things, such as com- community, and of pollution of manding his brothers to throw money in dung and to avoid touching money with their hands, his most radical act Earth’s air, land and water, was simply to love and care for creation. Francis realized the importance of a spiritual consciousness of creation Francis of Assisi models and community. This consciousness catalyzed Francis’ compassion for those that society judged to be “lesser” alternative modes of of creation. Importantly, Francis showed compassion not only for the poor and the lepers, but for plants and animals. consciousness and conduct.” Francis professed that concern for any of God’s creatures, great or small, overflowed into concern for all of God’s – John Hart, creation. “St. Francis in the Twenty-First Century.”

Followers of St. Francis believe that his inner struggle to love perfectly the least of his brothers gave rise to the humility through which he became a brother to all creation.

Pope Francis’ call for us to recognize the linkages between all creation, and the necessity of respect for each creature, closely reflects St. Francis’ concept that spiritual consciousness of creation and community can be a catalyst for compassion.

In the conclusion of his address, Pope Francis referred to the miracle of the loaves and fishes (Luke 9: 10-17). Francis emphasized that every fragment was saved, filling 12 baskets – an action representative of feeding all tribes, and all people. Francis asserted that, “When everything is shared, and none is wasted, the community can meet the needs of the poor.” Pope Francis encouraged his audience to reflect on “the problem of thrown away and wasted food.” This reflection, Francis hoped, would guide people to be conscious of their own actions, and to realize that “when food is shared in a fair way, with solidarity… every community can meet the needs of the poorest.” Questions for Discussion: 1. In the encyclical “Caritas in Veritate,” Pope Benedict XVI states that “every responsibility and every com- mitment spelt out by [the church’s social doctrine] is derived from charity which, according to the teaching of Jesus, is the synthesis of the entire Law.” With this statement in mind, what do you think Pope Francis means when he says that human ecology and environmental ecology are one in the same? 2. Pope Francis refers to the 12 baskets. He uses this to illustrate Jesus’ command to his disciples not to waste anything. Reflect on the waste you see in today’s world and give examples of instances in which overconsumption and waste in one part of the world may negatively affect those elsewhere. 3. Which aspects of Catholic Social Tradition does Pope Francis reflect in his speech? How are these aspects similar to those which St. Francis illustrates? (Learn more about Catholic Social Tradition at: http://old.usccb. org/sdwp/catholicteachingprinciples.shtml)

For more information about the Culture of Waste: Movies • http://www.storyofstuff.org/movies-all/story-of-stuff/ Catholic Teachings on Environmental Ecology and Human Ecology • http://catholicclimatecovenant.org/ • http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/human-life-and-dignity/environment/ • http://catholicecology.blogspot.com/ To challenge our “Culture of Waste” by becoming a conscientious consumer, visit: • http://www.newdream.org/programs/beyond-consumerism/consuming-consciously/buy-green or download the mobile application: Free2Work (F2W). • Read Pope Francis’ World Environment Day statement at http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2013/06/05/pope_ at_audience:_counter_a_culture_of_waste_with_solidarity/en1-698604