On this May 24th, commemorating the tenth anniversary of the encyclical Laudato Si’, ARCORES reaffirms its commitment to the transformative vision that Pope Francis presented to the world: recognizing that we inhabit a Common Home that cries out for our urgent care.
Ten years later, the message of Laudato Si’ resonates with greater force. Our planet faces unprecedented crises: record temperatures, extreme weather events, accelerated loss of biodiversity, and widespread pollution. These are not mere scientific data, but manifestations of the deterioration of our home, which affects the most vulnerable with particular harshness.
The encyclical reminds us that “everything is connected.”
Environmental degradation and poverty are not separate crises, but manifestations of the same problem: a development model that prioritizes economic benefit over human dignity and care for creation. As Francis points out, “there are not two separate crises, one environmental and the other social, but a single and complex socio-environmental crisis.”
Associations and groups in general have embraced this call to ecological conversion as an essential part of our mission. We work alongside vulnerable communities suffering the effects of climate change and the excessive exploitation of natural resources. We accompany those who defend their territories against extractivism that pollutes their waters and destroys their livelihoods.
The urgency is undeniable. Scientific reports warn us that we are reaching points of no return in multiple ecological systems. The time to act is shortening, while the consequences of our inaction intensify. As Laudato Si’ reminds us, “the pace of consumption, waste, and environmental change has exceeded the planet’s capacity.”
This anniversary invites us to deepen our commitment. Small individual gestures are not enough, although they are necessary. We need structural transformations in our economic, political, and social systems. We need a new intergenerational solidarity that considers the impact of our decisions on future generations.
At ARCORES, we renew our commitment to integral ecology. We countless organizations and movements that, inspired by Laudato Si’, work tirelessly for a world where human development and care for our Common Home advance in harmony. We invite the entire community to this collective effort, because as Pope Francis reminds us: “The earth is essentially a shared inheritance, whose fruits are meant to benefit everyone.”
Caring for our Common Home is not optional; it is an ethical and spiritual responsibility. It is the path toward a future where social justice and environmental sustainability are tangible realities for all inhabitants of this planet we share.
As part of this anniversary, REDES has participated alongside Enlázate por la Justicia in the round table “What do we do about mining? Rethinking the European paradigm of production and consumption.” You can watch it here.
An interview: Their cause, our cause – How mining affects Latin America? Javier Jahncke.
