The Season of Creation for the year 2021 comes to a close on October 4, the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of nature. This special period has consisted of 33 days of intense learning, prayer, sharing and action—all directed towards ‘caring for our common home.’ But despite the encyclical Laudato Si’, and the consistent advocacy of climate action by Pope Francis, there has been a lethargic response to the call.
To elicit a better response from the faithful, the Church should observe the Season of Creation as a time of renewal of life, like the season of Lent in the liturgical calendar. Change is hard to accept, more so in matters of religion and faith. Six years ago, Pope Francis proposed that caring for the environment be added to traditional Christian works of mercy such as feeding the hungry and visiting the sick. He also instructed the faithful that destroying the environment is a sin.
But just as not all governments in the world agree on climate action, so not everyone in the Catholic Church agrees with the recommendations of the pope. Apostolic exhortations such as Amoris Laetitia [The Joy of Love]; Querida Amazonia [Beloved Amazon], a 2020 post-synodal apostolic exhortation; and Traditionis Custodes, restricting the celebration of the Tridentine Latin Mass and liturgy, have been severely criticised by some within the hierarchy itself. For many, the latter was especially provocative.
“Some people accuse me of not talking about holiness. They say I always talk about social issues and that I’m a Communist. Yet, I wrote an entire apostolic exhortation on holiness, Gaudete et Exsultate,” Pope Francis commented to fellow Jesuits in Slovakia, in the second week of September. Referring to his recent surgery and a 10-day stay in hospital, he also said “Some people wanted me to die”—a remark that stunned his listeners. “They were preparing for the conclave!” he added.
Criticisms over policies and differences of opinion are nothing new in the Church. But advanced technologies and larger possibilities for constant media exposure bring these differing voices to a wider audience. The pope has expressed his displeasure with “a large Catholic TV channel that has no hesitation in continually speaking ill of the pope.” He decried such attempts as the “work of the devil.” The pope’s disappointment was evident when he said to his Slovakian confrères that he was also aware of “even priests who make nasty comments about the pope….”
Undeniably, the Church is going through a crucial time and opposition is nothing new to Pope Francis. But the faithful must remember that the pope is the successor of Peter and must be accorded all due reverence. Those who disagree with his positions on various issues ought to remember the words of Jesus: “What I want is mercy, not sacrifice” (Matthew 9:13).
Neither is it seemly for the Church to be seen to be in conflict with itself. As Pope Francis says: “I personally deserve attacks and insults because I am a sinner, but the Church does not deserve them.”
Jose CMF
