Relevance of Laudato Si’, eleven years later

By Fr Stephan Alexander

General Manager, CCSJ and AMMR

Eleven years ago, on May 24, 2015, Pope Francis, of happy memory, gifted the Church and the world with one of the most important social and spiritual documents of our time: Laudato Si’.

More than an environmental text, Laudato Si’ is a profound reflection on what it means to be human, to live in relationship with God, with one another, and with creation itself.

It is a call to conversion, a summons to rethink our lifestyles, and an invitation to rediscover joy, peace and hope through what Pope Francis called an “integral ecology.”

As we mark the 11th year of this groundbreaking encyclical, its message remains urgently relevant, especially for us in Trinidad and Tobago, a Small Island Developing State (SIDS) increasingly vulnerable to climate change, flooding, coastal erosion, pollution, excessive heat, biodiversity loss and unsustainable patterns of consumption.

Too often environmental discussions become trapped in politics, economics or fear. Pope Francis, however, approached the issue differently. In paragraphs 222–227 of Laudato Si’, he reminded us that caring for creation is a deeply spiritual reality.

His teaching indicated that the world’s ecological crisis is not merely about carbon emissions or waste management; it is also about the condition of the human heart. Humanity’s restless pursuit of endless consumption, convenience and profit has weakened our capacity for gratitude, simplicity and authentic joy. Pope Francis insisted that “Christian spirituality proposes an alternative understanding of the quality of life.”

In a world that constantly encourages people to buy more, waste more and consume more, the Christian is invited to discover freedom in simplicity. This simplicity is not misery or deprivation. Rather, it is the ability to recognise that life’s deepest meaning is not found in possessions, status or excess, but in relationships, community, gratitude and reverence for God’s gifts.

This message is especially important in Trinidad and Tobago where consumer culture often shapes social attitudes and aspirations. We live in a society where success can easily become measured by accumulation while wastefulness is normalised.

Yet our land, seas and communities are paying the price. Plastics clog waterways and beaches. Illegal dumping scars communities. Food waste grows while many families struggle economically. Excessive use of disposable items contributes to pollution that threatens marine ecosystems and public health alike.

Laudato Si’ challenges us to see these realities not only as environmental failures but also as spiritual ones.

Pope Francis wrote that genuine peace flows from learning “to be fully present to someone without thinking of what comes next.” Integral ecology therefore begins with attentiveness: attentiveness to God, to people and to creation.

It calls us to slow down enough to appreciate the beauty of a sunrise, the sound of rain, the gift of clean water, the dignity of labourers, the laughter of children and the sacredness of the natural world entrusted to our care.

This spirituality invites us to move from reflection into action. Parish communities throughout Trinidad and Tobago can become powerful witnesses to ecological conversion through simple but meaningful practices.

We can begin by reducing dependence on single-use plastics. Churches and parish groups can encourage reusable bottles, cups and containers during events and meetings. Parish harvests, family days and functions can intentionally minimise Styrofoam and disposable utensils. These small decisions, repeated consistently, can significantly reduce waste.

Families can also adopt more mindful habits at home: conserving electricity and water, reducing food waste, composting organic materials where possible, planting kitchen gardens and supporting local agriculture.

In a nation vulnerable to food insecurity and climate-related disruptions, growing even small amounts of food reconnects people to the earth while fostering responsibility and gratitude.

Parishes can organise community clean-up campaigns, tree-planting exercises and environmental education programmes for youth ministries and schools. Such activities should not be viewed as optional social projects but as expressions of Christian discipleship.

Caring for creation is part of caring for our neighbour because environmental degradation always harms the poor and vulnerable most severely.

Catholics can also advocate for stronger environmental policies, sustainable development practices and responsible corporate behaviour. Love for creation requires both personal conversion and structural change. The Church’s social teaching consistently reminds us that the common good demands shared responsibility from individuals, businesses and government alike.

The spirituality of Laudato Si’ is not rooted in fear, but in hope. We are therefore called to approach ecological action with fervent hope and to celebrate this 11th anniversary of Laudato Si’ as a hope-filled invitation to ecological conversion.

This great document is a reminder that holiness is expressed not only in prayer and worship, but also in how we treat the earth, how we consume resources, how we dispose of waste, and how we protect the dignity of present and future generations.

Care for our common home is not separate from our faith. It is one of the clearest expressions of it. Hence, in this Jubilee year of St Francis, as we commemorate the anniversary of Laudato Si’, the Catholic Youth Commission (CYC) and the CCSJ are inviting parishes to undertake environmental projects. Further details of this initiative will be forthcoming soon. However, we invite those of you interested in volunteering or supporting this initiative to reach out to the CYC or CCSJ via phone or email.

In caring for creation, we learn again to live with joy. In choosing simplicity, we rediscover peace. And in protecting the earth entrusted to us by God, we become credible witnesses of hope in a wounded world.

The CCSJ asks for your support. Please donate:

Catholic Commission for Social Justice

Account #: 290 458 025 501

Bank: Republic Bank Ltd.

or you can contact us at:

admin.ccsj@catholictt.org