Story by Ella Satterthwaite, Guest Columnist
You may have noticed that as of this fall the Pope has taken up residence at Aquinas College. Perhaps you have witnessed his migration throughout campus, been frightened by his unanticipated but kindly countenance peering through an office window, or have even deigned to stop and read his sign.
His presence isn’t entirely inexplicable—we are a Catholic college, but what gives?
The Pope’s cardboard simulacrum was introduced to our campus to generate conversation around Aquinas’ signing on to the “Laudato Si’ Action Platform,” and the development of its associated seven-year sustainability plan. In 2015, Pope Francis published an encyclical addressed to all people, on the importance of ‘caring for our common home.’ Entitled ‘Laudato Si,’ the piece advocates caring not only for the environment but also for all of those sharing it. It relates the two processes as necessary and symmetrical to each other, packaging them neatly into the term ‘integral ecology.’
Image courtesy of the author
You may be of the persuasion that another addition to Aquinas’ robust portfolio of sustainable practices is unnecessary; we already recycle, grow vegetables and plant trees. However, in examining Pope Francis’ introduction of integral ecology– a term beloved by Catholic-social-teachers and the more secularly inclined alike– we see there is more to be desired in our conception and practice of sustainability. In integral ecology, sustainability is not simply ecologically focused, but invokes a constant process that involves a radical empathy and care for the well-being of our friends, classmates, students, and coworkers that is generalizable to all people. Connecting the social-moral imperative, the “why,” to our stewardship and care represents the next step for sustainability at Aquinas.
In Laudato Si’, Pope Francis implores individuals to respond to both the cry of the Earth and of the poor, to adopt sustainable lifestyles as consumers and workers, to explore ecology through education and spirituality, and to strengthen and empower their communities (local, faith-based, and global).
When they are merely listed, these concepts may seem idealistic or nebulous. Yet, their particulars hold great importance and compel one to reflect: Do I act sustainably, with ecological care and humanitarianism in my daily life and decisions? What would life look like if these values impacted my decisions to a greater extent than they do now? This question posed by Pope Francis can– and should– be extended from the individual to our broader communities. At Aquinas, its answers will inform a plan for the campus’ future that brings us closer in caring for each other and the natural world: creation.
The Laudato Si’ Action Platform Steering Committee will read this form’s submissions. Share how you feel or send a request to get involved.
The Saint 