An Appeal to Pope Francis: The Path of Nonviolence Toward a Laudato Si’ Future
In 2015 Pope Francis shared with the world Laudato Si’: On Care for Our Common Home, a powerful encyclical that called us to confront the climate crisis by envisioning a profound transformation of the world. On the fifth anniversary of this historic message, The Catholic Nonviolence Initiative is convinced now more than ever that active nonviolence – in our lives, our communities, and our societies – is a critical way forward to a Laudato Si’ future and a world of justice and peace for all.
As a Catholic Nonviolence Initiative participating organization, Pace e Bene invites you to sign CNI’s appeal to Pope Francis found below to advance the vision, spirituality and practical methods for nonviolent change at this critical moment. All are welcome to sign. Religious communities, organizations, educational institutions and individuals are especially invited. Please share the link to this appeal as widely as possible. The deadline for signatures is July 31 as we hope to deliver the message to Pope Francis early in August.
An Appeal to Pope Francis:
The Path of Nonviolence
Toward a Laudato Si’ Future
The coronavirus has laid bare the deep roots of racism and cultural violence, economic injustice, wars “fought piecemeal,” climate change and environmental destruction that are facing the human community and our planet. Response to the pandemic requires a fundamental shift from the “unjust normal” of systemic and structural violence across the globe, from systems that destroy, dehumanize and diminish, to a culture of solidarity that seeks the fullness of life for all.
Active nonviolence – a spirituality, a way of life and a program of societal action – is key to this global shift; to the roadmap laid out in Journeying for the Care of Our Common Home; and to the future envisioned in Laudato Si’. The two hands of nonviolence speak clearly to this moment in history: “No” to the multidimensional violences that plague our world; “yes” to human dignity and respect for the integrity of creation.
Nonviolence is a path for conversion, for deep personal and societal transformation from the old way of domination and exploitation toward a “civilization of love” (Laudato Si’ #231). The universal ethic of nonviolence can shape a new, more just “normal” and guide the growing mass movement of ordinary people, including many Catholics, longing for the post pandemic world that you have helped us to envision.
To further encourage a process of ecological conversion, we believe that a companion reflection to Laudato Si’ would deepen and greatly expand Catholic understanding of and commitment to nonviolence as a crucial pillar in the foundation of integral human development and a more sustainable “common home.”
We are deeply grateful for the hope and vision that you bring to these troubled times.
Catholic Nonviolence Initiative’s Marie Dennis greeting Pope Francis in September 2019.